; j 



Jin Outline for the Studp 



OLD TESTAMENT 
HISTORY 



FRANK SE AY 




Class _T!i5iii3-7 
Bnnlc , e)4 - 

fopv'rigk'N" ■ 



COPffilGKT DEPOSIT. 



AISF OUTLII^E 



FOR THE STUDY OF 



OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY 



FRANK SEAY 

Professor in the School of Theology of 
Sovthem Methodist University 



Nashville, Tknn. 

Dallas, Tex. ; Richmond, Va. 

Publishing House op the M. E. Church, South 

Smith & Lamar, Agents 

1917 



sx^^ 






Copyright, 1917 

BY 

Smith & Lamar 






s 



To 
BISHOP ED WIN D. MOUZON 

FOR LONG AN ARDENT 
ADVOCATE OF THE 
STUDY OF THE BIBLE 
RATHER THAN MERE- 
LY OF BOOKS ABOUT 
THE BIBLE 



PREFACE 

The present study is not a treatise about the Bi- 
ble, but a guide to the study of the Bible itself. It 
presupposes a desire to know not merely certain 
passages and proof texts, but the Old Testament as 
a whole — its contents and its purpose and message 
in its final form. It is believed that a thorough 
mastery of this aspect of the Old Testament should 
precede detailed criticism of particular books or 
sources and questions of authorship and date. The 
subject matter usually covered under the title of 
"Introduction to the Old Testament" should be, in 
this view, not introductory, but a systematic in- 
quiry of a more advanced kind. Such matters are 
therefore avoided, and the attempt is made to get 
a view of the Old Testament that will hold, what- 
ever may be one's present or later position on ques- 
tions of authorship and the like. 

The outline here given aims, moreover, to be a 
stimulus to further study and a preparation there- 
for. The amount of time devoted to the mastery of 
the present outline might well be devoted to a sin- 
gle book of the Bible. Especially should the preach- 
er's chief study be his Bible ; and unless he is stirred 
to a more definite and detailed systematic study of 
particular books and phases of the Old Testament, 
the present work will have failed in one of its cen- 
tral purposes. 

This book is written at the request of the College 
of Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 

(5) 



6 An Outline of Old Testament History 

South, for use in the course of study for itinerant 
and local preachers ; but it is hoped that it may be 
found useful as well for courses in Old Testament 
history in schools and colleges, for advanced class- 
es in Sunday schools and other organizations, and 
also to individuals who in private study wish a 
general survey of the Old Testament history by a 
first-hand study of the Old Testament material it- 
self. An outline for the study of other phases of 
the Old Testament along the lines of the present 
study of Old Testament history is in preparation. 

The author has in places followed his "Story of 
the Old Testament" (Smith & Lamar, 1912) with- 
out stating that fact. His indebtedness to all the 
Old Testament scholars whose works he has read 
is obvious and is hereby acknowledged. Long or 
frequent footnotes are out of place in a work of this 
kind. 

The author's thanks are due to Bishop Edwin D. 
Mouzon, to his colleagues. Professors Paul B. Kern 
and Ivan Lee Holt, and to Mrs. Frank Seay for care- 
ful reading of the manuscript and for valuable sug- 
gestions. ' Frank Seay. 

Dallas, Tex., February 20, 1917. 



SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS AND 
STUDENTS 

The present outline is not for easy reading, but 
for study. In fact, one can hardly master any lit- 
erature of a different age and clime from one's own 
without more than a casual reading. Bible stories 
are serviceable for immature minds, and critical 
discussions about the Bible are in order for those 
who have mastered its contents; but these should 
be preceded by a familiarity with the Bible text 
itself, and to that end an outline of some kind is a 
valuable aid. Therefore : 

1. For the best work every one should use a wide- 
margin Revised Version of the Bible. The Ameri- 
can Standard rendition is, in spite of some objec- 
tions frequently made to it, the most accurate Eng- 
lish translation of the Old Testament and is there- 
fore recommended. 

2. Mark your Bibles (a) by writing in the mar- 
gins a title for the various paragraphs. It is well 
to print the main heads and write the subheads. 
Use either the paragraph headings suggested in the 
textbook or your own headings. (6) By underscor- 
ing passages to which, for any reason, you wish to 
call attention for later thought, (c) By writing at 
the bottom or top of the pages other notes or ques- 
tions for later study. 

3. The chapters, sections, and paragraphs are ar- 
ranged according to the requirements of the subject 
matter. The chapters are not used for references; 
for convenience of reference the sections are made 
continuous throughout the book. The section num- 

(7) 



8 An Outline of Old Testament History 

bers and headings are in black-faced type, and the 
paragraphs are marked with the paragraph sign (^). 
Individual classes and students have diflferent needs 
and abilities, and lessons should be arranged to suit 
each case. A list of suggested daily portions, howev- 
er, given on page 200, will serve as a guide for those 
who wish to use the outline for daily Bible study and 
may aid in the assignment of lessons for classes. See 
Appendix I. also for suggestions as to omissions or 
as to the possibility of dividing this study of Old 
Testament history into two or more separate courses. 

4. In every Bible passage the student should aim 
first of all to get the contents. The outline should 
be taken as a guide to that end. It is not intended 
to summarize the Bible text, but to lead to a mas- 
tery of the text itself. One should aim at a general 
view, leaving more detailed questions for later 
study. If, however, these questions persist in the 
mind, the commentaries may well be consulted. Do 
not follow the outline slavishly. Look for other 
viewpoints in the Bible passages and learn to get 
the peculiar message of each to your own mind. 

5. Wherever the textbook says "Read" or ^^Com- 
pare," read carefully the Bible reference there giv- 
en. It is easy to get into the habit of omitting some 
because the reference seems familiar or for other 
reasons. By such omission the student loses much. 
The rereading of a familiar passage may give one 
a new point of view, and often the passage is not 
as familiar as was thought. 

6. Attention is called to the Bibliography in the 
back of the book for those wishing further study. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Chapter I Page 
The Origin of the World and the Early History of Man- 
kind 11 

Chapter II 
The Patriarchs : Redemption by Election 17 

Chapter III 
The Period of the Exodus a9 

Chapter IV 
The Wilderness Journeyings 48 

Chapter V 
The Conquest of Canaan 67 

Chapter VI 
The Period of the Judges: The Pre-National Stage of 
the Occupation of Palestine 78 

Chapter VII 
The Foundations of National Unity and the Establish- 
ment of the Monarchy 93 

Chapter VIII 
The Kingdom of David 106 

Chapter IX 
The Reign of Solomon 132 

Chapter X 
The Early Years of the Two Kingdoms 140 

Chapter XI 
The Age of Elijah and Elisha in the Northern Kingdom. 146 

(9) 



10 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Chapter XII Pa.ge 

The Last Years of the Kingdom of Israel 160 

Chapter XIII 

Judah from the Accession of Jehoshaphat to the Cap- 
tivity of Israel 163 

Chapter XIV 
Judah from the Fall of Israel to Her Captivity 170 

Chapter XV 
The Return and Restoration of the Jewish People 181 

Chapter XVI 
Resume and Review 191 

Appendix I 
Portions for Daily Bible-Reading 200 

Appendix II 
Bibliography 211 



AN OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF OLD 
TESTAMENT HISTORY 



CHAPTER I 

THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD AND THE EARLY 
HISTORY OF MANKIND 

(Genesis 1:1 to 11:9) 
1. God and the World. 

Read Genesis 1 : 1 to 2 : 3. 

The section referred to presents an account of the 
creation of the world in six days, followed by a di- 
vine Sabbath rest, verses 1-3 of chapter two being 
the completion of what precedes, not the introduc- 
tion to what follows. It must be remembered that 
the verse and chapter divisions are not a part of 
the original text of the Bible, but were made, the 
one by Jewish scholars, the other by Archbishop 
Stephen Langton (died 1228) or by Cardinal Hugo 
about A.D. 1250. The developed Old Testament con- 
ception of creation, and therefore of God and the 
world, is here presented. 

Read and compare Psalm 104, 19:1-6; Isaiah 
40:18-26. 

Whatever may be said of similarities between the 
Hebrew and the Babylonian accounts of creation, 
God in the first chapter of Genesis is not like the 
Babylonian Marduk or the Greek Zeus, a recent 
conqueror of previous forces or earlier gods, but he 

(11)' 



12 An Outline of Old Testament History 

is back of and above nature. In the words of Ed- 
ward Caird : "If nature is viewed as revealing him, 
it is rather negatively than positively, by the way 
in which she trembles before him or shrinks up into 
nothing in his presence/'^ "Before him the moun- 
tains skip like rams.'' (Ps. 114.) 

Consider the majesty of the words : "Let there be 
light, and light was.'' 

Compare the statement of man's dominion in 
verses 26-28 with Psalm 8. 

Write out the order and steps of creation. 

2. Man and His World. 

Read Genesis 2:4-25. 

Compare Genesis 1 : 27 with 2:7; "in the image of 
God," yet "of the dust." 

Compare Genesis 1 : 29 with 2 : 5&2 and 15. What 
is the relation of man to the vegetable world? 

Compare Genesis 1 : 28 with 2 : 18-20. What is the 
relation of man to the animal world? Compare 
again Psalm 8. 

3. The Beginning of Sin in the World. 

Genesis 3 : 1-24. 

TJ 1. The book of Genesis is one chapter or divi- 
sion of a work on Hebrew history beginning with 
the creation of the world and running practically 
through the independent national life of the He- 

^"The Evolution of Religion," Vol. I., p. 385. 

-5& means the second half of verse; 5a, the first half. 
Sometimes verses may be divided into thirds or even 
fourths. 



The Origin of the World 13 

brews. The books of the Bible from Genesis to Sec- 
ond Kings, inclusive, constitute this continuous nar- 
rative, though of course it is not meant that they 
came from the pen of a single writer. 

The Hebrews were not interested in history for 
history's sake. In fact, only annalists are. Histo- 
rians choose out facts that fit and prove a central 
theme. For illustration, take two modern examples. 
Harnack's "History of Dogma" is not merely a rec- 
itation of the theories of various men, but a presen- 
tation of various theories under the thesis that as 
Gnosticism was the acute Hellenization of early 
Christianity, the Catholic theology was a slower 
process of the same kind. Woodrow Wilson's "His- 
tory of the American People" is a presentation of 
the view, along with other views, that Webster was 
the prophet of a new doctrine rather than the ex- 
pounder of the Constitution. The works of Momm- 
sen. Gibbon, Hume, Green, and other historians, 
though they sometimes show the framework and 
theses less evidently, are built around one or more 
central viewpoints. 

The history of the Hebrews from Genesis to Sec- 
ond Kings is a story of the growth of sin and the 
process of redemption — a story of God's working in 
human history. Keep this thought in mind through- 
out the entire study. 

The opening chapters of Genesis, forming an in- 
troduction to the entire history, present God's world 
fresh from the making of his own hand. "It was 
good," and man was innocent of any sin ; but 



14 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 2. Man falls through disobedience. 

Read Genesis 3 : 1-24. 

Note the stages of the narrative: the temptation 
and sin (verses 1-6) ; the result in the minds of 
Adam and Eve (7-8) ; the discovery and judgment 
(9-21) ; the aftermath (22-24). 

4. The Growth of Sin in the Primitive World. 

Genesis 4 : 1-26, 6 : 1-12. 

T[ 1. At its next appearance sin had grown from 
simple disobedience to murder. 

Read Genesis 4 : 1-15. 

Note: The setting (verses l-5a) ; the working of 
Cain's mind and the outcome (56-8) ; the reckoning 
(9-15). 

The psychology of the sinful and criminal mind 
is masterfully portrayed in these few strokes con- 
cerning Adam, Eve, and Cain in Genesis 2-4. 

^ 2. The song of Lamech. 

Read Genesis 4 : 16-26. 

The boast of Lamech is that he will be many 
times more savage than Cain. The Authorized Ver- 
sion misinterprets the passage. Lamech is not, as 
the seventeenth-century translators surmised, re- 
pentant for an act of murder, but is "swinging his 
tomahawk" and gloating over one murder (for 
"young man'' and "man" refer to the same person) 
and threatening vengeance on all who touch him. 
Compare verses 15 and 24, which, taken together, 
indicate the meaning: "If whoever slays Cain shall 
be avenged sevenfold, whoever seeks to slay Lamech 
shall be' avenged seven and seven tyf old." 



The Origin of the World 15 

^ 3. The result of the first sin ; the core of the ap- 
ple of disobedience. 

Eead Genesis 6 : 1-7, 11, 12. 

5. Redemption by the Elimination of the Unfit: The 

Flood. 

Genesis 6 : 8, 6 : 13 to 9 : 17. 

^ 1. Noah and the flood. 

Eead Genesis 6 : 8, 6 : 13 to 7 : 24. 

Note : The character of Noah ; the building of the 
ark in accordance with the divine warning ; the flood 
and the destruction of man and beast. 

^2. The cessation of the waters. 

Read Genesis 8 : 1 to 9 : 17. 

The beautiful picture of the sending of the raven 
and the dove and of the family worship, with its 
burnt offering and the divine promise, has been a 
general favorite. 

The chief theological significance of the passage 
is in the divine efifort to redeem mankind here made, 
not merely by the punishment of the wicked, as in 
the case of Cain, but by the elimination of their 
race from the earth. 

6. After the Flood: Sin Reappears. 

Genesis 9 : 18-29, 11 : 1-9. 

lyi. Noah's drunkenness. 

Read Genesis 9 : 18-29. 

Two views are taken of Noah's drunkenness. One 
is that the author does not mean to impute blame to 
Noah, the efifects of wine being known now for the 
first time; the other is that Noah lapsed from his 



16 An Outline of Old Testament History 

former righteous life. Ham's unfilialness results in 
a father's curse. 

^2. The Tower of Babel and the confusion of 
tongues. 

Read Genesis 11 : 1-9. 

This is the only incident between the flood and 
the call of Abraham related in the text. What w^as 
the purpose of the Tower? What was the reason 
for the divine displeasure? 



CHAPTER IT 

THE PATRIARCHS: REDEMPTION BY ELECTION 

(Genesis 11:10 to 50:26) 
7. Abraham. 

Genesis 11 : 10 to 25 : 10. 

1J1. Here begins the second grand division of the 
book of Genesis (Gen. 11:10 to 50:26), the story of 
the beginnings of the Hebrew folk. These begin- 
nings are of interest, however, not merely as his- 
toric facts, but as a stage in the outworkings of the 
plan of God, Noah's salvation from the flood was 
an election, a choosing out of Noah ; but as all oth- 
er men were destroyed, there was no chosen race liv- 
ing by the side of other races, and the emphasis is 
on the elimination of the others rather than on the 
election of Noah. 

^2. What is the ultimate purpose of the election 
of Abraham? 

Bead Genesis 12 : 1-3. 

There is some doubt about the correctness of the 
translation, but in any case this wider prophetic 
view will be studied later. SuflSce it to say that 
there are two elements in the prophetic conception 
of election: (1) The development in religion and 
righteousness of an elect people; (2) the salvation, 
through them, of the world. Compare Isaiah 42 : 0, 
49 : 6, 60 : 1-3. Compare also Eomans 9 to 11. 

U 3. Primitive tribal movements. 

2 (17) 



18 An Outline of Old Testament History 

(1) The migration is begun by Abraham's father 
and continued by Abraham. 

Read Genesis 11:27-32, 12:4, 5, and 9. 

Locate on the map Ur of the Chaldees and Ca- 
naan. Abraham's migration is not like the moving 
of a gray-bearded old man with a large retinue of 
servants from the Atlantic Coast to California. 
There was, indeed, an advanced civilization in the 
land of his birth; but Abraham was not in close 
touch with it, and the migration of tribes was not 
infrequent in his day. 

(2) Having found a new orbit, the tribe moves 
from place to place in the Mediterranean country. 
The chief occupation is sheep- and cattle-raising. 

Eead Genesis 13:2, 3, 5, and 18. Compare also 
20:1 and 21:34. 

(3) The struggle for existence. 

Eead Genesis 12 : 10, 13 : 10, 26 : 1, 15, and 18-22. 
Consider the problem of water for men and flocks 
in ancient tribal life. The economic conditions are 
primitive, and famines are not infrequent. Com- 
pare India and China to-day and the commercial 
crises or periodical ^^hard times" of more developed 
civilizations. A famine causes a final settlement of 
Abraham's descendants in Egypt. Compare Gene- 
sis 41:56 to 42:3. See a concordance on the word 
"famine.'' 

^4. Tribal division. 

Read Genesis 13 : 1-12. 

As in the lowest form of animal propagation — 
for example, the protozoans — vf lien an animal grows 
until it becomes too large for proper nourishment it 



The Patriarchs 19 

divides and becomes two, so wliere a primitive tribe 
becomes too large to flourish under existing condi- 
tions it becomes two distinct tribes. Confederation 
of tribes under a designated leader or king repre- 
sents a more advanced social organization. 

U 5. Different types of political organization. 

(1) Reference has already been made to the roving 
tribes led by Abraham and Lot. Abraham came 
forth from Chaldea from under the shadow of a 
powerful empire, and he dwells awhile in Egypt, 
another empire. Locate each on the map. These 
two empires play a large part in the national career 
of Israel. The historico-geographical situation is 
well presented by George Adam Smith : ^^ Syria [the 
term being used to designate the strip of Western 
Asia, including Palestine, lying along the Mediter- 
ranean Sea between Asia Minor and Egypt] has 
been likened to a bridge between Asia and Africa, 
a bridge with the desert on one side and the sea on 
the other; and, in truth, all the great invasions of 
Syria, with two exceptions, have been delivered 
across her northern and southern ends. But these 
two exceptions — the invasions of Israel and Islam 
— prove the insuflSciency of the bridge simile. . . . 
Syria is not only the bridge between Asia and Afri- 
ca ; she is the refuge of the drifting populations of 
Arabia. She has not only been the highroad of civ- 
ilizations and the battle field of empires, but the 
pasture and the school of innumerable little tribes. 
. . . In this strange mingling of bridge and har- 
bor, of highroad and field, of battle ground and 
sanctuary, of seclusion and opportunity. 



20 An Outline of Old Testament History 

lies all the secret of Syria's history."i When one 
considers the Hittite and the Philistine invasions 
from Asia Minor and the later Greek and Roman 
and medieval and modern conquests, one might even 
more properly describe Syria-Palestine as the cen- 
ter of a great X or Maltese cross stretching from 
Arabia to Asia Minor and from Babylonia to Egypt. 

(2) Read Genesis 12:66, 13:76, 15:19-21. There 
are other tribes in the land, some roving, some liv- 
ing a more settled life. "The Perizzites," says Ben- 
nett,2 "are sometimes regarded as the name of a 
tribe, apparently from this passage [13:7], dwelling 
about Bethel and perhaps belonging to the aborigi- 
nal population older than the Semitic Canaanites, 
and sometimes as the inhabitants of the perazot\ or 
open villages, as distinguished from the dwellers in 
towns." In any case there is another type of polit- 
ical organization quite distinct even from the more 
settled tribal — namely, 

(3) The city. 

Read Genesis 13 : 12. 

(4) There are tribal treaties and tribal, city, and 
national confederacies and wars. 

Read Genesis 21:22-33, 14:1-17. Compare 26: 
26-33. 

Abraham's character as the head of a tribe is set 
forth clearly in Genesis 14. 

^''Historical Geography of the Holy Land,*' page 6. 

^The New Century Bible, ''Genesis/' Compare George 
Foote Moore, "International Critical Commentary," 
"Judges," page 17. 



The Patriarchs 21 

^ 6. Social life and standards. 

(1) The standard of family inviolability is not 
what it is to-day. 

Eead Genesis 12:11-20, Abraham and Pharaoh; 
and Genesis 20 : 1-18, Abraham and Abimelech. The 
same thing is told of Isaac. Eead Genesis 26 : 6-11. 
Compare Judah and Tamar, and David and his fam- 
ily in later times. 

The suggestion to polygamy comes from the wife. 
Eead Genesis 16 : 1-3. 

Abraham takes still another wife and concubines. 
Eead Genesis 25 : 1-6. 

(2) Life in the harem. 

Eead Genesis 16 : 4-16, 21 : 1-21. 

(3) The moral corruption of the city. 
Eead Genesis 13:13, 18:20 to 19:38. 

^ 7. Abraham, the friend of God and the recipient 
of the divine promise. 

The story of Abraham's life is the setting for the 
presentation of Abraham as the recipient of the di- 
vine promise, the father of an elect race chosen to 
begin a new redemptory movement. 

Next to this in importance is the picture of Abra- 
ham as the friend of God. In the opening chapter 
of the Bible there is presented a picture of God in 
his majesty, behind and above nature, creating the 
world by a word. But this is not the whole of 
the Hebrew picture of God. In Genesis 3 : 8a he is 
spoken of as "walking in the garden in the cool of 
the day," and he appears and talks to Abraham as 
with a friend. 



22 An Outline of Old Testament History 

With these two points in mind and noting the 
connection in each case, read : 

(1) Genesis 12:1-3 and 6-8, 13:14-17, the original 
promises. 

(2) Genesis 14:18-24, the meeting with Melchize- 
dek. 

(3) Genesis 15 : 1-21, the promise of direct progeny 
and the prophecy of bondage and deliverance. 

(4) Genesis 17 : 1 to 18 : 19, the covenant of the cir- 
cumcision and the appearance at Mamre with the 
promise of Isaac and the declaration of Jehovah's 
purpose concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. 

(5) Refer again to Genesis 21:1-7, the fulfillment 
of the promise of Isaac, and to Genesis 18:20-33, 
Abraham's prayer for Sodom. 

11 8. The test of Abraham's faith. 

Eead Genesis 22 : 1-19. 

This, one of the most impressive of Old Testa- 
ment narratives, seems intended to teach that, while 
Jehovah requires such devotion as would give up an 
only son for his sake, human sacrifice is to be ban- 
ished from Israel. 

TI 9. The death of Sarah. 

Eead Genesis 23 : 1-20. 

Consider the pathos of the scene. 

Along with the idea of property rights coming 
from the digging of wells, the possession of a bury- 
ing place acts as a factor in turning roving tribes 
to settled life. The burying place of the fathers is 
especially sacred to primitive peoples and acquires 
somewhat of a religious significance. Compare Gen- 
esis 49 : 29-31, 50 : 12, 13, and 25. Working similarly 



The Patriarchs 23 

toward settled life is the establishment of sacred 
places of worship. Compare the oak of Moreh, Gen- 
esis 12:6, 35:4; also the altar of Bethel, 12:8, 
13 : 3, 4, and the oaks of Mamre, 13 : 18, 14 : 13, 18 : 1, 
25:9. The Roman Horatius in Macaulay's poem 

asks: 

"And how can a man die better 
Than facing fearful odds, 
For the ashes of his fathers. 
And the temples of his gods?" 

These two go together with primitive peoples, if 
not with all peoples. Compare the country grave- 
yard hard by the church. 

^ 10. The betrothal of Isaac. 

Read Genesis 22 : 20-24, 24 : 1-67. 

Consider first the universal elements (the old, old 
story, with its perennial interest, and the faithful 
servant) and, secondly, the social life of a distant 
age (camels at the village well, news of a distant 
kinsman, the primitive hospitality, the ring and the 
bracelets and the jewels (verses 30 and 53), the few 
days' wait, the question of marriage within kindred 
tribes). Upon this last topic refer to an encyclo- 
pedia or Bible dictionary on the subjects of "Ex- 
ogamy and Endogamy," "Marriage,'' and "Family 
Relations." 

As is usual in undeveloped social conditions, the 
choice of the husband or wife is in the hands of the 
parents, and the desire for progeny precedes the 
ideal of love and companionship between man and 
wife. Even under such conditions, however, a real- 
ly romantic courtship may occur. 



24 'An Outline of Old Testament History 

Tjll. The death of Abraham and his burial at 
Sarah's side. 
Eead Genesis 25 : 7-10. 
Compare paragraph 9, above. 
^12. Resume of the life and character of Abra- 
ham. 

(1) The order of the contents of the accounts con- 
cerning Abraham has been disregarded in order to 
get a better grouping of the material for the under- 
standing of the backgrounds of the history. Wheth- 
er the contents are arranged in chronological order 
or not is a question for more advanced study. Get 
a general idea of the order of the contents, which is 
as follows : 

The premigration of Terah (Gen. 11:27-32). 
The migration of Abraham (12:1-9). 
Abraham in Egypt and his exposure of Sarah 

to insult (12:10-20). 
Abraham and Lot separate (13:1-18). 
The four kings against five, the rescue of Lot, 
and the meeting with Melchizedek (14:1-24). 
Abraham's vision and the covenant (15:1-21). 
Abraham takes Hagar to wife, and Hagar flees 

from Sarah (16:1-14). 
The birth of Ishmael (16 : 15, 16). 
The covenant again — the change of Abraham's 
name from Abram to Abraham and the sign 
of circumcision (17 : 1-14) . 
The promise of Isaac and the change of Sarah's 

name from Sarai to Sarah (17:15-21). 
The circumcision of Abraham's house (17:22- 
27). 



The Patriarchs 25 

The visit of the three mysterious men; Sarah 
laughs at the divine promise ; Abraham prays 
for Sodom (18:1-33). 
The destruction of Sodom, the flight of Lot, and 

the birth of his two sons (19 : 1-38). 
Abraham and Abimelech (20:1-18). 
The birth of Isaac and the flight of Hagar 

(21:1-21). 
The treaty between Abraham and Abimelech 

(21:22-34). 
The sacrifice of Isaac (22 : 1-19) . 
News of Nahor's family (22:20-24). 
The death and burial of Sarah (23:1-20). 
The betrothal of Isaac (24:1-67). 
Abraham's other wife and concubines and chil- 
dren (25:1-6). 
The death and burial of Abraham (25 : 7-10). 
(2) Abraham, the best man of his day, partakes 
nevertheless of the low ideals of his age. Far from 
risking all for Sarah's protection, he exposes her 
merely for his own safety. Through all, however, 
religion is the dominant force in his life ; and as the 
centuries pass it is the power that raises the He- 
brews to higher things. Abraham is not only a re- 
ligious but a brave man, willing to risk battle and 
able to return a conqueror of conquerors. Never- 
theless, he is not warlike, and his battle is a bit of 
generous service for a nephew who had not been 
generous to him. The picture of this quiet, unob- 
trusive man, kindly and religious, partaking nat- 
urally of the low^ ideals of his age, but with his face 
toward the larger moral future, must have had a 



26 An Outline of Old Testament History 

vital eflfect upon Hebrew life and character. ^Thus 
will your enemies do to your walls," said Remus, the 
athletic younger brother of the founder of Rome, 
as he ran and leaped over them. "And thus,'' an- 
swered Romulus, smiting him through with a jave- 
lin, "will I do to them." The Romans naturally be- 
came conquerors of the world. For the Hebrews, 
on the other hand, the murdered Abel, not the mur- 
derer Cain, is the hero, and the life of the kindly 
old patriarch stands in the center of popular thought 
and affection. The Hebrews naturally, therefore, 
have taught the world how to find God and how to 
live. 

It is worth recalling further that just as in the 
first chapter of Genesis God is presented as the ex- 
alted Creator, so in the immediately-following chap- 
ters and in the accounts of the free and easy inter- 
course between Abraham and his God the tenderer 
side of the divine nature is portrayed; and of the 
two phases the latter, in spite of what the scholars 
call its anthropomorphism, is the greater. 

8. Isaac. 

Genesis 21 : 1 to 33 : 29, in part 

^1. The father of the musician, Felix Mendels- 
sohn, once said that in his early life he was the son 
of his father (the well-known philosopher) and that 
in his later life he was the father of his son. Such 
was Isaac. The student's chief interest in him is 
that he is the son of Abraham and the father of 
Jacob — a link between the two — and one might also 
add "the husband of Rebekah." In the chief inci- 



The Patriarchs 27 

dents in which he appears he is rather a passive fig- 
ure. Two such incidents, the test of Abraham's 
faith and the search for a wife for him, have already- 
been studied. Note Isaac's passivity in the inci- 
dents that follow. 

^2. Isaac's prosperity. 

Eead Genesis 25 : 11, 26 : 12-14. 

^ 3. Isaac and Abimelech. 

Eead Genesis 2G : 6-33. 

The matters herein related have for the most part 
been referred to previously. See Section 7, para- 
graph 3 (3), paragraph 5 (4), and paragraph 6 (1).^ 

^ 4. Isaac the recipient and transmitter of the di- 
vine promise and election. 

Eead Genesis 25 : 19-26, 26 : 1-5 and 24. 

^ 5. Esau sells his birthright. 

Eead Genesis 25 : 27-34. 

According to our higher ethical standards, there 
is no excuse for Jacob; but two types of men met 
here in the universal struggle for existence and su- 
premacy. The man who is a slave to immediate de- 
sire goes down. Esau's cry of being "at the point 
to die" must not be taken too seriously. Wherever 
one's sympathies may lie, nature's present rewards 
are to the crafty and cunning as against the beastly. 

The incident is sociologically indicative as well of 
how the hunting tribes, by virtue of the uncertainty 
of their livelihood, must give way to the organized 

"See Suggestion 3, page 7. If you have not read care- 
fully "Suggestions to Teachers and Students," do so at this 
point Even if you have read them, it is worth v/hile to 
reread them. 



28 An Outline of Old Testament History 

industry of sheep- and cattle-raising. Venison may 
be hard to find when it is needed most. Agriculture 
and manufacturing are still later developments and 
still greater assets in the struggle for existence and 
supremacy. 

11 6. The paternal blessing. 

Kead Genesis 27 : 1-45. 

Get the scene clearly before the mind: parental 
favoritism ; the old man's favorite meal ; the crafty 
wife and son ; the simple faith in the efficiency of a 
father's blessing ; the disappointed Esau. 

^ 7. Marriage and tribal kinship again. 

Read Genesis 26:34, 35, 27:46. 

Compare articles referred to in Section 7, para- 
graph 10. 

Ty 8. The interest has already shifted to Jacob ; the 
death of Isaac occurs after the reconciliation of 
Jacob and Esau. 

Eead Genesis 35:27-29. 

9. Jacob. 

Genesis 25 : 21 to 50 : 13, in part. 

^ 1. A boy's first night away from home. 

Eead Genesis 27 : 46 to 28 : 22. 

This has always been in Christian art and Chris- 
tian thought, for the child and for the adult, one 
of the favorite Old Testament incidents. As a de- 
votional passage, for its view of the sense of God, it 
is to be placed beside the account of the "still small 
voice" that came to Elijah. 

Get the picture and the spirit of the passage in 
spite of its familiarity. What is the explanation of 



The Patriarchs 29 

the fact that without any note of repentance this ex- 
perience follows Jacob's deception of Isaac? There 
will be occasion to refer to this question later. 

TI2. An ancient love story. 

Bead Genesis 29 : 1-20. 

Compare the betrothal of Isaac, Genesis 24 : 1-67. 
Jacob chooses his own wife; but the primitive ideal 
of marriage by the purchase of the bride shows it- 
self in his serving seven years in payment for Ea- 
chel, and 

^ 3. Lower social customs appear at the wedding. 

Eead Genesis 29 : 21-30. 

^ 4. Another harem. 

Compare Section 7, paragraph 6, (1) and (2), and 
read Genesis 29 : 31 to 30 : 24. 

It must be confessed, however, that the way Ke- 
bekah took advantage of Isaac's blindness and the 
parental favoritism of both Isaac and Eebekah leave 
much to be desired in the contemporary monoga- 
mous household. 

Tl 5. Laban's shepherd ; the morals of ancient trade. 

Eead Genesis 30:25-43. 

Compare the way Laban had treated Jacob (Gen. 
29:21-30). Jacob does not seem to feel that he is 
doing Laban any wrong. Compare 31 : 36-41. 

Was the reason for the increase of the ring- 
streaked in the prenatal environment of the rods or 
in the laws of heredity ? Compare 31 : 11, 12. 

TJ 6. Jacob turns home. 

Eead Genesis 31 : 1 to 32 : 2. 

Note : The flight, the pursuit, and the stolen gods ; 
the treaty ; the meeting with the angels. 



30 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Some scholars think that verses 26 and 31 reflect 
the age of matriarchy, when heredity and kinship 
were reckoned through the mother and not through 
the father at all, and when marriage for the man 
was a joining of the wife's clan. 

^7. The prospect of meeting a long-since-injured 
brother. 

Eead Genesis 32 : 3-21. 

The hands are the hands of an ancient age, but 
the voice is the voice, of every age and clime. Note 
Jacob's fear, his resort to prayer, and his diplomacy. 

T[ 8. Jacob meets God. 

Eead Genesis 32 : 22-32. 

This is another favorite amongst the Old Testa- 
ment stories, especially with more devout souls. 

How far and of what does Jacob repent here? 
Jacob's wiles do not reappear, and many think of 
this as his conversion, when he turns away from his 
old life to a life dominated by the highest moral 
standards. A view more frequent formerly than 
now notes the dream of 28:10-22 and the appear- 
ance of God's host (32:1, 2) and counts this his 
second blessing or sanctification. Jacob says 
(32: 10) that he is not worthy; but there is no defi- 
nite sign in chapter 28 of his repenting of his decep- 
tion of Isaac, nor in this passage of his craftiness 
with Laban. Compare Saul's ^'I have sinned. . . . 
I have played the fool" (1 Sam. 26:21) and David's 
^^I have sinned" (2 Sam. 12:13). In view of these 
facts many maintain that the highly-idealized char- 
acters of the patriarchs stand out from a back- 
ground of lower social and moral standards and 



The Patriarchs 31 

that a man could be religious in a primitive envi- 
ronment without living in accordance with the mor- 
al standards of a later era. Which of these is, after 
careful thought, 3^our own view ? 

U 9. The meeting with Esau. 

Read Genesis 33 : 1-17. 

^ 10. In the Land of Promise again. 

Eead Genesis 33:18-20. 

T[ 11. The rape of Dinah. 

Eead Genesis 34 : 1-31. 

The ideal of virginity is strongly held in spite of 
lower social standards. Compare: 

^ 12. The story of Tamar. 

Read Genesis 38 : 1-30. 

Note the Levirate law and the low sexual morality 
of Judah. Compare Reuben (Gen. 35:22a) and 
also David and his family in later times. But note 
Genesis 38:24 and 34:31 on the ideal of chastity 
for women. 

][ 13. At Bethel again. 

Read Genesis 35 : 1-8. 

What does Jacob do here? What memory prompts 
him? 

^ 14. Jacob and the promise. 

Read Genesis 35 : 9-15. 

This atmosphere of promise and election hovers 
around Jacob's life as well as around the lives of 
Abraham and Isaac. 

1[15. The death of Rachel — the mother gives her 
life for the babe's. 

Read Genesis 35 : 16-21. 

Note the roving tribe, as in Abraham's day. 



32 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Here the interest turns to Joseph. Jacob's later 
years and death are so inextricably bound up with 
the career of Joseph that they will be studied in that 
connection. 

10. Joseph. 

Genesis 37 to 50. 

^ 1. There are especial incidents told of Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob that have been constant favorites ; 
but no Old Testament character portrayal, except 
perhaps that of David, has held Bible readers with 
such interest as the story of Joseph. As a charac- 
ter type Daniel must be placed beside these two. 

^ 2. The dreamer and his brothers. 

Eead Genesis 37 : l-27a. 

How far were parental favoritism and his dreams 
calculated to cause Joseph's brothers to dislike him ? 
But of course this cannot justify their unbrotherli- 
ness. What were Joseph's dreams ? 

^ 3. Joseph is sold to a wandering tribe and resold 
into slavery. 

Eead Genesis 37 : 276-36. 

There is hardly need of calling attention to the 
beauty and pathos of this story. Every incident in 
Joseph's career, indeed, is interesting. 

^ 4. The test of character. 

Eead Genesis 39 : 1-23. 

"To be a Joseph" means to keep one's self sexually 
chaste. It is a great contribution to have given this 
ideal its classic example and expression. 

11 5. In the prison. 

Eead Genesis 40 : 1-23. 



The Patriarchs 33 

Many of the world^s supreme moments have been 
within prison walls. The song of Paul and Silas 
and Bunyan's ^Tilgrim's Progress" do not represent 
the only noteworthy ones. 

^ 6. Pharaoh's dream and the interpreter. 

Bead Genesis 41 : 1-37. 

A little service to an imprisoned butler results in 
the opportunity of a lifetime. The ability and tried- 
out character of Joseph are able to meet the oppor- 
tunity. 

Tl 7. Prime minister and savior of Egypt. 

Bead Genesis 41 : 38-52. 

T[ 8. The famine in Egypt and in the lands beyond. 

Bead Genesis 41 : 53 to 42 : 5. 

^ 9. Joseph and his brothers. 

Bead Genesis 42 : 6-38. 

The tables have turned since these brothers last 
met. Why Joseph did not reveal himself to them 
and send immediately for his father is as perennial 
a question as ^^Was Hamlet insane?" Figure out the 
workings of Joseph's mind and purpose and ask 
yourself how far he is perfectly justifiable all the 
way through. Did he know what plan he would pur- 
sue from the first? Or was he debating at each 
stage what to do next? 

^ 10. The second journey to Egypt. 

Bead Genesis 43 : 1 to 44 : 34. 

Note: "Benjamin must come"; the dinner with 
Joseph ; "Is your father well, the old man of whom 
you spake ?'' ; the cup in the sack ; Judah's plea for 
Benjamin. 

U 11. Joseph makes himself known. 
3 



34 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read Genesis 45 : 1-28. 

Dwell upon the tenderness and grandeur of Jo- 
seph's character. What is Joseph's doctrine of God's 
working? Compare Genesis 50 : 15-20. 

|[ 12. The tribe settles in Goshen. 

Read Genesis 46:1-7 and 46:26 to 47:12. Com- 
pare 46 : 26, 27 with 14 : 14. 

How do you explain the difference in the figures ? 
Ishmael and Esau had also come from the Abraham- 
ic tribe by a tribal division similar to that in Lot's 
case. Do you think that the threescore and ten in 
46:27 is, as some take it, exclusive of dependents? 
And did the dependents come too? Or what is the 
explanation in your view ? 

^ 13. The new Egyptian land situation : lands held 
in tenure from the king. 

Read Genesis 47 : 13-26. 

^14. Jacob's prospective burial place and his 
charge to his sons. 

Read Genesis 47:27-31 and 49:29-32. Compare 
Genesis 50 : 24, 25 and Section 7, paragraph 9. 

^ 15. Jacob blesses his grandchildren. 

Read Genesis 48 : 1-22. 

This scene is the subject of a noted painting by 
Rembrandt. 

Note that throughout Genesis there runs the re- 
curring ideal of verses 3, 4. 

TJ 16. The prophecy of Jacob. 

Read Genesis 49 : 1-28. 

Judah and Joseph are the outstanding leaders. 
Compare the days of the two kingdoms of Judah and 
Israel. The question of poetic form, in which the 



The Patriarchs 35 

passage appears, will be treated later. A discussion 
of the tribal history reflected here is beyond the 
scope of the present study. 

^ 17. The death and burial of Jacob. 

Bead Genesis 49 : 29 to 50 : 13. 

"All's well that ends well." 

^ 18. After Jacob's death. 

Read Genesis 50 : 14-26. 

Joseph's final request and its significance have al- 
ready been noted. 

11. The Genealogical Tables. 

Genesis, passim, and 1 Chronicles 1:1 to 2:2. 

^ 1. The Genesis genealogies. 

Eead Genesis 5:1-32, 6:9, 10, 10:1-32, 11:10-32; 
25 : 12-19, 35 : 226-26, 36 : 1-43, 46 : 8-25. 

There is running through the book of Genesis 
and embedded in the general narrative a series of 
genealogies that can best be studied for the present 
purpose in isolation from the remainder of the nar- 
rative and parallel to it as a summary of the whole. 

^ 2. The early genealogies of Chronicles. 

Read 1 Chronicles 1 : 1 to 2 : 2. 

The book of Chronicles opens with a genealogical 
summary paralleling the period covered by the book 
of Genesis. The significance of this will be noted 
later. 

12. The Book of Genesis. 

Genesis naturally divides itself into two grand di- 
visions, chapters 1 to 11 : 9 being an account of the 
early history of mankind prior to the days of Abra- 
ham, and chapters 11: 10 to 50:26 an account of the 



36 All Outline of Old Testament History 

patriarchs, particularly of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 
and Joseph. These two divisions are usually given 
more loosely as chapters 1 to 11 and 12 to 50, re- 
spectively. In the latter grand division the bio- 
graphical cast of the story is strongly marked. 

The book is cast in a framework marked by the 
recurrence of the formula ^^These are the genera- 
tions of," or a variant of it. The first appearance of 
this formula is in 2 : 4, and there has been some dis- 
cussion as to whether it belongs there to what goes 
before or to what follows. In any case it refers to 
the generations of "the heaven and the earth.'' "The 
book of the generations" of Adam begins in 5:1. 
Then follow the generations of Noah (6:9), of the 
sons of Noah (10:1), of Shem (11:10), of Terah 
(11:27), of Ishmael (25:12), of Isaac (25:19), of 
Esau (36:1), of Jacob (37:2). 

Different portions of Genesis manifest certain pe- 
culiarities, notably in the use of the names for God. 
Elohim, or simply God, is the divine name in Genesis 
1:1 to 2 : 3 ; whereupon there immediately follows an 
extended passage using the name "Jehovah God," 
translated "Lord God" in the Authorized and Eng- 
lish Revised Versions. Many scholars think they 
find here and elsewhere two or more separate liter- 
ary strata corresponding to the use of these names 
and to other peculiarities. These strata they sup- 
pose to be earlier sources, such as those to which the 
Bible itself refers in Joshua and Chronicles. Com- 
pare Joshua 10:13& (the book of Jasher) and 1 
Chronicles 29:29. Others think that the author, 
with conscious literary skill and power, uses simply 



The Patriarchs 37 

^^God'^ for the majestic creation name and "Jehovah 
God" when treating of the Divine Being in his ten- 
der covenant relations with men. 

Genesis in the Hebrew Bible is designated by its 
opening word "Bereshith/' or "In beginning"; and 
some maintain that the English title is a translation 
of this Hebrew name by the Anglicized Greek word 
^^Genesis," or "Beginning." Others insist that the 
name comes from the Greek Septuagint, where the 
heading of the first two sections (2:4, 5:1) of the 
book is "Biblos geneseos," or "book of the genera- 
tions/^ genesis being the nominative of geneseos. 
Whether the one or the other of these sources be the 
origin of our modern English title of the book or 
w^hether both may have figured, the title in either 
case would be significant ; for Genesis is both a book 
of the beginning of all things and also a book of be- 
ginnings or origins or generations. 

13, Exercise and Review. 

(The student should be prepared at the examination to 
answer the questions and work out the exercises indicated 
below, but the examiner need not confine himself to these 
questions and exercises. Correspondence or class instruc- 
tors might well select certain of these questions and exer- 
cises or make out others for the student's especial atten- 
tion.) 

(1) Write an outline of the pre-Abrahamic history. 

(2) Write an outline of the career of Abraham; of 
Isaac ; of Jacob ; of Joseph. 

(3) Write a sermon or sermon outline or a charac- 
ter sketch of the life of each of the four mentioned 
above. 



38 An Outline of Old Testament History 

(4) Discuss the social aud moral standards and 
conditions of the patriarchal age according to Gen- 
esis. 

(5) State and discuss the philosophy of history 
and the historical aim of the author of the book of 
Genesis in writing the book. 

(6) Locate on your Bible map the Euphrates, Ur 
of Chaldea, Canaan, Egypt, Bethel, Hebron. 

(7) Having now studied Genesis in some detail, 
sit down and read the whole book at a single sitting 
or at two sittings. Write j^our impressions of the 
book after having finished. 



CHAPTER III 

THE PERIOD OF THE EXODUS 

(Exodus 1:1 to 15:21) 

14. The Early Life of Moses. 

Exodus 1 : 1 to 4 : 26. 

^1. The Hebrew history contained in Genesis to 
2 Kings is not a continuous, uniform narrative of 
the entire period covered. It has been seen that 
about eleven chapters are given to the early history 
of mankind, when the narrative assumes a biograph- 
ical cast, recounting the lives of Abraham, Isaac, 
Jacob, and Joseph. 

The narrative then turns, with the beginning of 
the book of Exodus, from biography to national his- 
tory. The personality of Moses is, after the opening 
account, less dwelt npon than that of Abraham, 
Jacob, or Joseph and is made subordinate to the 
story of a great national movement. Not only is 
this true, but a long period between the times of 
Joseph and Moses is passed over with only 

^ 2. An opening summary. 

Eead Exodus 1 : 1-7. 

^ 3. The Hebrews put to enforced labor. 

Eead Exodus 1 : 8-14. 

Instead of trying to develop them into an intelli- 
gent ally — social idealism had not advanced far 
enough for so enlightened a policy — the Egyptians 
seek to keep their subjects and dependents so igno- 
rant and weak and so under the habit of dependence 

(39) 



40 An Outline of Old Testament History 

and obedience that they might not become dangerous 
as enemies. To that end 

^4. A general infanticide of Hebrew males is or- 
dered. 

Read Exodus 1 : 15-22. 

The practice of infanticide within the tribe se- 
lects preferably the females, since they are not a 
military asset and are frequently of less economic 
value; but a foe kills the males, thus depleting the 
enemy's military strength, and saves the females, 
usually as wives and concubines for themselves. 

T[5. The birth of Moses. 

Read Exodus 2 : 1-10. 

Of what tribe was he? Compare Acts 7 : 22 on his 
education. The story is a universal favorite for its 
pure idyllic beauty. 

1[6. Moses's rash, premature, and violent espousal 
of the Hebrew side. 

Read Exodus 2 : 11-14. 

TJT. The exile's romance in Midian. 

Read Exodus 2 : 15-22. 

Compare Jacob's meeting with Rachel (Section 9, 
paragraph 2). Recall that Abraham's servant met 
Rebekah at the well (Section 7, paragraph 10). The 
well and the village spring have been the scenes of 
many a romance. 

Tl 8. The divine call and election of Moses. 

Read Exodus 2 : 23 to 3 : 22. 

Note: The situation (2:23 to 3:1); the call 
(2:2-6) ; the election for what (3:7-22) ? Compare 
the call and election of Abraham and Joseph. Jo- 
seph is sometimes referred to as the favorite of Je- 



The Period of the Exodus 41 

hovali ; but while Jacob's favoritism gave him a spe- 
cial coat (compare Genesis 37:3, R. V., margin), 
Jehovah's favoritism brings him through slavery and 
prison to save many people alive. So the election of 
Moses was to a great task. 

This passage has been, equally with 2 : 1-10, a gen- 
eral favorite, less, however, for its idyllic beauty 
than for its devotional and moral inspiration. Com- 
pare President Wilson's little book, ^When a Man 
Comes to Himself," and Lincoln's autobiographical 
sketch in which he tells how the Kansas-Nebraska 
bill aroused him to his life's task. Compare Isaiah 
6 ; Jeremiah 1 : 4-10 ; and Acts 9 : 1-19. 

H 9. The two diflQculties in the way. 

Eead Exodus 4 : 1-17. 

What were to be Moses's credentials? Who was 
to be his spokesman? 

This passage probably figures largely in Moses's 
popular reputation as the ^'meekest man." 

^ 10. Moses returns to Egypt. 

Eead Exodus 4 : 18-26. 

Verses 24-26 constitute a diflScult passage. The 
failure to circumcise his son seems to be the sin for 
which Jehovah sought to kill Moses. 

15. The Exodus. 

Exodus 4 : 27 to 15 : 21. 

lyi. Moses persuades the people and appears be- 
fore Pharaoh. 

Read Exodus 4: 27 to 5: 3. 

U2. What is Pharaoh's answer? What steps does 
he take to meet the situation? 



42 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Eead Exodus 5 : 4-18. 

"Nothing to arbitrate/' answered certain captains 
of industry in a great strike some years ago. The 
Mosaic movement is almost as much a labor move- 
ment and a social revolution as it is a political and 
religious uprising. Modern corporations and social 
workers note that more leisure and better wages in- 
crease rather than decrease labor demands. So Pha- 
raoh held. Those who are thoroughly ground down 
by toil have neither energy nor spirit for rebellion. 

1J3. What is the effect of the initial contest upon 
the Israelites? 

Eead Exodus 5 : 19 to 6 : 1. 

It takes courage and a steady hand to lead popu- 
lar reform. People depend too much on mob spirit 
and mob effort; but a spasmodic contest in a great 
cause rarely wins. It requires sacrifice and determi- 
nation in group life and in national life, as well as 
in individual life, to accomplish large results. 

What is Moses's feeling at the popular dismay 
(5:23) ? But he finds strength and encouragement 
in the secret place with God. 

T[4. The new divine name and the new encounter 
with Pharaoh. 

Eead Exodus 6 : 2-13 and 6 : 28 to 7 : 13. 

What is the new divine name? What is the di- 
vine promise? What happens at the new encounter 
with Pharaoh? What is the result? 

IJS. What was the first plague brought upon the 
land in the effort to force Pharaoh to let Israel go? 
and with what result upon the land and upon Pha- 
raoh's mind? 



The Pmod of the Exodus 43 

Read Exodus 7 : 14-25. 

^ 6. The next six plagues. 

Read Exodus 8 : 1 to 9 : 35. 

These six plagues can be grouped together, because 
it is a treadmill parley with Pharaoh that they rep- 
resent, little or no progress being made. 

What are these six plagues? and what their ulti- 
mate result? 

Note especially 9:4 and 26, the exemption of 
Goshen ; and 9 : 20, the exclusion of believing Egyp- 
tians from the plague of hail. 

On 8 : 26 Bennett says :^ "It is implied that the Is- 
raelites would sacrifice animals which, according to 
Egyptian ideas, ought not to be sacrificed ; and such 
worship would obviously not be safe. Disturbances 
often arise in India owing to the behavior of Mo- 
hammedans or Europeans toward the cow, which is 
sacred to the Hindus.'' 

^ 7. What are the next two plagues ? 

Bead Exodus 10 : 1-29. 

Note especially verse 7; Pharaoh's servants begin 
to plead for the land. 

The parleying advances to a discussion of exact 
terms. Compare verse 8. What is Moses's answer? 
what Pharaoh's counter proposition ? What is Pha- 
raoh's next concession (verse 24) ? What is Mo- 
ses's ultimatum (verses 25, 26)? what Pharaoh's 
(verses 27-29) ? Diplomatic relations are now bro- 
ken off ; next comes war. 

^The New Century Bible, "Exodus." 



44 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read again Exodus 8 : 27-29. Was Moses planning 
for a sacrifice in the desert, where plans might be 
laid for a future peaceful exodus and colonization 
under Egyptian suzerainty, or was this three days' 
journey only a pretense, the intention being a per- 
manent exodus? In any case the refusal of Pha- 
raoh and the ensuing events make a return to Egypt 
forever impossible. Compare the later longing for 
^^the fleshpots of Egypt." ^^God hardened Pharaoh's 
heart" is the Hebrew philosophy of the history, "in 
order to make a return to Egypt out of the question." 
The details of that philosophy of history cannot be 
discussed here. 

^ 8. The final plague and the Passover. 

Read Exodus 11 : 1 to 12 : 30 and 13 : 14-16. 

The character of the Passover as a phase of He- 
brew ritual law will be studied in another connec- 
tion. Here it is noted as a part of the history. And 
here, as everywhere, get the progress of the story 
carefully. 

U 9. The exodus. 

Read Exodus 12 : 31-42 and 50, 51. 

What is your explanation and view of the Hebrew 
spoliation of the Egyptians? 

Note the presence of the mixed multitude and the 
inference that the Israelites were, therefore, a com- 
posite people. 

The omitted passage (like other passages omitted 
frequently from now on) will be taken up when the 
subject of the legal and priestly element of the Old 
Testament is reached in the later volume referred 
to in the preface. 



The Period of the Exodus 43 

^ 10. Pursuit and deliverance. 

Read Exodus 13 : 17 to 14 : 31. 

The constant danger is the desire to return to the 
torpid existence of a well-fed slavery instead of brav- 
ing the battles of freedom (13 : 17, 14 : 11, 12). 

Note: The initial journej^; the pursuit; the Israel- 
ites' fear ; the crossing of the Red Sea ; and the over- 
throw of the Egyptians. 

16. The Song of Triumph and the Character of Hebrew 
Poetry. 

Exodus 15 : 1-21. 

^ 1. As poems are frequently embedded in the Old 
Testament narrative and as they form the oldest 
sources for the knowledge of Old Testament history, 
it is well to pause and consider the character of 
Hebrew poetry. The fifteenth chapter of Exodus is 
the first really great poem in the Bible; the forty- 
ninth chapter of Genesis is formal and less sponta- 
neous and not so great as a poem, and the poems in 
Genesis 4 : 23, 24, 9 : 25-27, 25 : 23, 27 : 27-29 and 39-40 
are short quotations. 

The form of Hebrew poetry is peculiar, and on ac- 
count of its singularity in form many have read the 
Bible over and over without recognizing its poetry. 
Most modern poetry makes use of rhyme, and the 
^^I am a poet, but I didn't know it,'' which frequently 
follows chance rhyme of ordinary conversation, shows 
how closely the popular mind associates rhyme with 
poetry. A little thought, however, will indicate that 
the greatest poetry of even the English language is 
the blank verse of Milton and Shakespeare, while the 



4G An Outline of Old Testament History 

stately verse of the Greeks is likewise without rhyme. 
With the possible exception of some folk poems, 
which will be discussed in connection with the wis- 
dom element, the Hebrews used neither blank verse 
nor rhyme; yet their poetic form is no less real than 
ours. It consists of parallelism, of which there are 
three kinds : 

(1) Synonymous parallelism, where the second 
line repeats in other words the thought of the first : 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 
And the firmament showeth his handiwork." 

(Ps. 19:1.) 

(2) Antithetic parallelism, in which the second 
member is in contrast with the thought of the first : 

"For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; 
But the Lord upholdeth the righteous." 

(Ps. 37:17.) 

(3) Synthetic parallelism, where the second mem- 
ber completes the thought of the first : 

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, 
So panteth my soul after thee, O God." 

(Ps. 42:1.) 

Sometimes, too, a more intricate form is found, as, 
for example, where the sense of two synonymous lines 
is completed by two other synonymous or antithetic 
parallelisms : 

*'The Lord is my strength and my shield; 
My heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: 
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; 
And with my song will I praise him." (Ps. 28:7.) 

The earliest written portions of the Bible are 



The Period of the Exodus 47 

poems. The story of Lainech quotes from a poem 
which upon any theory must be much older than the 
narrative. Or, again, the history of Joshua's con- 
quest of Canaan quotes a little poem from the book 
of Jashar : 

**Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; 
And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." 

The book of Jashar and the book of Wars of Je- 
hovah (compare Numbers 21:14) seem to have been 
collections of early Hebrew poems which the Old 
Testament historians used at times as sources of the 
early history. Wherever a poem is found embedded 
in prose the poem is usually much older, for writers 
of prose narratives do not often burst into a poetic 
strain of their own. 

^ 2. The song. 

Eead Exodus 15 : 1-21. 

What are the divisions or turns of thought in the 
poem? Scholars divide prose and poetical passages 
diflferently, and there is frequent room for difference 
of view. Learn to depend on yourself to find your 
own views of such things. 

Discover and classify the parallelisms of the poem. 



CHAPTER IV 

THE WILDERNESS J0URNEYING8 

(Exodus 15:22 to Deuteronomy 34:12, in Part) 
17. The Mosaic Books. 

The first five books of the Bible, traditionally 
ascribed to Moses, are usually grouped together un- 
der the title "The Pentateuch/' from the Greek word 
pente (five) and teiichos (book). Sometimes the 
book of Joshua is grouped with these five, and the 
six books are called "The Hexateuch'' (Greek hex, 
six). 

An analysis of the book of Genesis has already 
been given (Section 12). The books relating the sto- 
ry of the exodus and the wilderness life are Exodus, 
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Not all of 
these books, however, are equally historical in char- 
acter and intent. In fact, because the legal elements 
are so prominent, these four books, along with Gene- 
sis, which is historical in character, were grouped 
together by the Jews under the name "The Law.'' 
The purely legal aspects can be so much more easily 
grasped after a study of the prophetic books and of 
the religion and philosophy of religion of the Old 
Testament, and a study of the law breaks so ma- 
terially into the purely historical phases, that it will 
be simpler to take up only the historical portion of 
these four books first, returning to the remainder 
later. This course is deemed better because our 
(48) 



The Wilderness Journeyings 49 

study involves not a study of the Pentateuch alone, 
but a study of the Pentateuch in connection with 
Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, 
and Nehemiah. 

Exodus, named from the Greek word, now thor- 
oughly Anglicized, recounts the Israelitish ^^exodus," 
or "going out,'' from Egypt. The divisions of the 
book are given differently by different scholars. Per- 
haps as natural a division as any is as follows : Chap- 
ter 1 : 1 to 2 : 22, introduction ; 2 : 23 through chapter 
10, Israel's last days in Egypt, leading up to the ex- 
odus and closing with Moses's ultimatum to Pha- 
raoh, "Not a hoof shall be left behind" and "I shall 
see thy face no more" (10:26, 29) ; then chapters 
11 to 18, the departure from Egypt and the journey 
to Sinai; the remaining chapters (19 to 40) detail 
Israel's eventful stay at Sinai. 

Exodus gives only seven verses, as has been seen, 
to the period of the Egyptian bondage from the 
death of Joseph to the events immediately preceding 
the birth of Moses. The annals of slavery are usual- 
ly uneventful, detailing only the monotonous round 
of daily drudgery. The remainder of the first chap- 
ter sketches rapidly the Egyptian plan to check the 
growth of the Hebrew people by killing the male 
children. The first twenty- two verses of chapter 2 
record the birth and early life of Moses. The remain- 
der of the book covers a period of less than two 
years; but the events of these two years are of im- 
portance to the national life of Israel, comparable to 
the Magna Charta to England or the Eevolution to 
the United States. 
4 



50 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Deuteronomy covers likewise but a short space of 
time — the last month of the forty years of Israel's 
nomad life. The last chapter recounts the death of 
Moses and the succession of Joshua, with the state- 
ment that there has ^^not risen since in Israel a 
prophet like unto Moses.'' 

The period between the first two years and the last 
month of the wilderness life is recounted in the book 
of Numbers, so named from the several ^^numberings" 
of the tribes therein contained. Much of it, however, 
like Leviticus, is given to laws and ceremonies rath- 
er than to history proper. The following summary 
from the "International Critical Commentary" on 
^^Numbers,"! by Dr. George Buchanan Gray, will 
give an idea of its character: "The first section of 
Numbers (1:1 to 10:10) may be regarded as an ap- 
pendix to the books of Exodus and Leviticus. . . . 
The latter part of the last section is, though far less 
closely, related to Deuteronomy. . . . The book of 
Numbers is a section somewhat mechanically cut out 
of the whole of which it forms a part. . . . Unity of 
subject is found only when 1 : 1 to 10 : 10 is disregard- 
ed. The subject of the remainder of the book is the 
fortunes of the Israelites after leaving Sinai, . . . 
up to the point at which they are ready to enter and 
conquer the Land of Promise." The chief interest of 
Numbers in the popular mind has been the story of 
Balaam and Balak, told in chapters 22-24. The anal- 
ysis of Leviticus and Deuteronomy does not come 
into consideration here. 

^Pages xxiii.-xxv. 



The Wilderness Journeyings 51 

18. The Journeyings Previous to Reaching Sinai. 

Exodus 15: 22 to 18: 27. 

^1. After crossing the Eed Sea the Israelites did 
not enter upon a forced march to Canaan, but ef- 
fected a return to a roving tribal life with a view to 
a final settlement in the home of the forefathers and 
a land of freedom. The subject of the section is, 
therefore, not ^The Wilderness Journey," but "The 
Wilderness Journeyings,'^ though this first stage is 
much more like a journey than the period after leav- 
ing Sinai. 

112. DifBculties of the nomad life. 

Read Exodus 15 : 22 to 16 : 3. 

Many of the American negroes after the Civil War, 
finding that "freedom is not a bequest, but a con- 
quest,'' longed for a well-fed slavery as against the 
necessity for economic independence. 

The two chief problems of the wilderness life were 
water and food. Compare Lot's choice of the Jor- 
dan valley and Isaac's wells. Some commentators 
tell of how modem Arabs use a certain shrub for 
making the "gip water" drinkable. 

^ 3. The quails and manna. 

Eead Exodus 16:4-36. 

At what time of day did the quails and manna ap- 
pear ? What was the custom on the Sabbath ? What 
was the order for a permanent memorial? 

^4. The water problem again. 

Eead Exodus 17 : 1-7. 

What is the solution this time? 

^5. Tribal warfare. 

Eead Exodus 17:8-16. 



52 An Outline of Old Testament History 

With whom was the battle? What was its course 
and result? 

Desert tribes were apt to come upon one another at 
any time and fight. Especially would the intrusion 
of a new tribe into a small or comparatively barren 
territory cause trouble. Sometimes the battles would 
be for watering places or choice pasture lands ; some- 
times for plunder; and sometimes, probably, simply 
for the love of fighting. Tribal feuds might, there- 
fore, easily arise either for justifiable or arbitrary 
reasons. 

Compare the tribal wars and treaties of Abraham's 
day. 

^6. The visit of Jethro and the organization of a 
series of subordinate judgeships. 

Bead Exodus 18:1-27. 

Who was Jethro ? What was his advice to the un- 
organized, newly-formed tribe? What were his rea- 
sons for the course he proposed ? 

19. At Sinai. 

Exodus 19 : 1 to Numbers 10 : 10, in part. 

11" 1. The thunders of Sinai. 

Eead Exodus 19 : 1-25. 

How long after leaving Egypt is it before the Is- 
raelites appear at Sinai ? Compare this passage and 
the covenant of Genesis 17 : 1-14. Get clearly before 
the mind the scene depicted — the primitive people 
and the simple, worshipful awe. 

Sinai and Horeb seem variant names for the same 
mountain. It was here, while keeping Jethro's 
flock, that Moses had his vision of the burning 



The Wilderness Journeyings 53 

bush and received his commission from Jehovah 
(Ex. 3). He leads the people immediately to this 
mountain in Jethro's neighborhood, that they may 
enter into the same relationship with Jehovah which 
he had entered upon at this sacred place. Compare 
verses 5 and 6 with Exodus 6 : 24 ; compare also Eli- 
jah, 1 Kings 19 : 8-14. 

11 2. The Ten Commandments. 
Exodus 20 : 1-21. 

Consider now merely the historical aspect. The 
place of the Decalogue in the religion and laws of 
Israel will be considered at another time. 

113. The promise and the command with regard 
to the Canaanitish peoples. 

Bead Exodus 23:20-33. 

What was the promise? what the command? 

T[ 4. The blood of the covenant. 

Eead Exodus 24:1-11. 

^ 5. Moses goes up on the Mount of God. 

Bead Exodus 24 : 12-18. 

^6. The instructions concerning the tabernacle 

Eead Exodus 25 : 1-9 and 31 : 1-11. 

The intervening passage gives in detail the pat- 
tern of the tabernacle. 

H 7. Moses receives the tables of stone. 

Eead Exodus 31 : 18. 

^ 8. The golden calf. 

Eead Exodus 32 : 1 to 33 : 6. 

In view of the great apostasy (33:1-6), what does 
Jehovah propose? and what is Moses's argument? 
Compare Abraham's prayer in Genesis 18. 

Note: Moses's return and anger and the three 



54 An Outline of Old Testament History 

thousand slain (verses 15-29) ; Moses's return to the 
mount and plea for the people and the divine prom- 
ise (32:30 to 33:6). 

T[ 9. Moses the friend and confidant of Jehovah. 

Eead Exodus 33 : 7-23. 

Note: The tent of meeting, Moses's trysting place 
with God; God promises his presence and shows 
Moses his glory. Who was keeper of the tent of 
meeting ? 

11 10. The second tables of stone. 

Read Exodus 34 : 1-28. 

Note especially the magnificent description of 
God in verses 6, 7. The details of the ritual law 
need not concern us here. 

U 11. Moses's face reflects the divine glory. 

Eead Exodus 34 : 29-35. 

^ 12. The order concerning the Sabbath. 

Eead Exodus 35 : 1-3. 

11 13. The tabernacle. 

Eead Exodus 35:4 to 36:7, 39:32, 33, 42-43, and 
40 : 1-38. The intervening passages are legal details. 

^ 14. The installation of the Aaronic priesthood. 

Eead Leviticus 8 : 1 to 10 : 7. 

This is the only portion of Leviticus wherein the 
historical as opposed to the legal is suflficiently 
prominent to warrant treatment here, and the de- 
tails of this passage do not now come into consider- 
ation. The elaborate sacrificial system of the He- 
brew ritual, however, should be considered in pass- 
ing. 

Note: The consecration ceremony (8:1-36); the 



Tlie Wilderness Journeyings 55 

oflferings after the consecration (9:1-24); the 
strange fire (10:1-7). 

]f 15. The first census. 

Read Numbers 1 : 1-46. 

There is no need of getting the details by tribes. 
What is the grand total? But 

^ 16. The Levites are not included in this census. 

Eead Numbers 1 : 47-54. 

Why were they not included (compare verse 456) ? 
What was to be their special work? 

^ 17. The arrangement of the tribes in the camp. 

Kead Numbers 2 : 1-34. 

T[ 18. The separate census of the Levites. 

Read Numbers 3 : 1-39. 

Tj 19. The blessing and the offerings. 

Read Numbers 6 : 22 to 7 : 3. 

Sketch (without reading word for word) 7:4-88. 

Read Numbers 7 : 89. 

Note especially the beautiful ritual blessing in 
6:24-26. 

^ 20. The consecration of the Levites. 

Read Numbers 8:5, 6, and 20-22. 

^21. The cloud and the fire covering the taber- 
nacle. 

Read Numbers 9 : 15-23. 

^22. The trumpets. 

Read Numbers 10 : 1-10. 

20. Wilderness Journeyings after Leaving Sinai. 

Numbers 10 : 11 to 22 : 1, in part. 
' TJl. Leaving Sinai. 
Read Numbers 10 : 11-28. 



56 An Outline of Old Testament History 

What was the period of time spent before reach- 
ing Sinai (Ex. 19:1) ? How long then did the Is- 
raelites stay at Sinai according to the present ref- 
erence? The journeyings now begun, as recorded 
in the present section of our study, occupy nearly 
forty years. 

What was the signal for the start? 

^2. Moses's father-in-law refuses to join Israel. 

Read Numbers 10:29-32. 

Compare Exodus 18. See commentaries on Ho- 
bab, Reuel, and Jethro. 

^3. The morning and evening prayers. 

Read Numbers 10 : 33-36. 

Consider well the picture of the majestic tribal 
morning and evening worship. 

^4. Murmurings of punishment. 

Read Numbers 11:1-3. 

There is a constant tendency to idealize the past 
and think of the good old days, but a closer view 
frequently shows another side. Compare Ezekiel 
20 and Stephen's arraignment in Acts 7. 

^ 5. The cry for meat and the coming of the quails. 

Read Numbers 11 : 4-35. 

Notice the impatience of the great leader, on whom 
rests the heavy burden of leadership, and the divine 
sympathy with him (verse 17). What means does 
God take to answer the cry for meat? What spirit 
does Moses show in the presence of possible rivals? 
Compare John the Baptist when his disciples show 
a jealousy of Jesus in John 3 : 25-30. 

^ 6. Petty jealousies of the unique prophet. 

Read Numbers 12 : 1-15. 



The Wilderness Journeyings 57 

How does the spirit of Aaron and Miriam com- 
pare with Moses's spirit in the verses preceding? 

U 7. The spies. 

Eead Numbers 12 : 16 to 13 : 33. 

Concerning what were the spies to report ? What 
did they bring back? and what was their report? 
What did Caleb say? 

^ 8. The effect of the report on the people. 

Eead Numbers 14 : 1-10. 

What did Joshua and Caleb say again? 

TJQ. The anger of Jehovah and the intercession 
of Moses. 

Bead Numbers 14 : 11-19. 

Compare Section 19, paragraph 8. What is Mo- 
ses's argument? 

Compare Jehovah's proposition to make a great 
nation of Moses with the "election" of Abraham and 
of Noah. What is the purpose and meaning of 
^^election'' in the Old Testament? 

^ 10. The pardon and the punishment. 

Eead Numbers 14 : 20-39. 

What relation has pardon to punishment? In 
this question is bound up the whole question of 
atonement. Compare verse 34. What was the pun- 
ishment of the people? of the spies? What about 
Joshua and Caleb ? 

^ 11. The unauthorized battle. 

Eead Numbers 14 : 40-45. 

What was its result ? 

^ 12. A case of violation of the Sabbath law. 

Eead Numbers 15 : 32-36. 

^ 13. Insubordination and revolt in the camp. 



58 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read Numbers 16 : 1-40. 

Who were the revolters? and from what tribes 
were they? Name two grounds for the dissatisfac- 
tion (verses 2, 3^ and 12-14). Were there two par- 
ties making separate revolts for separate reasons, 
or one combined revolt for a double reason ? 

What was Moses's plea for the people? and his 
challenge? What was the result of the affair? 

Tj 14. The aftermath of the revolt. 

Read Numbers 16 : 41-50. 

What is the popular complaint? 

Note the renewal of the proposal to make Moses 
the father of an elect race and Moses's anxiety for 
the people. 

What is the ultimate result of the popular upris- 
ing? 

T[ 15. The test of the rods. 

Read Numbers 17 : 1-13. 

What was the result of the test ? 

1J16. Moses oversteps his authority. 

Read Numbers 20 : 1-13. 

Compare Exodus 17:1-7. 

The water problem constantly faces wandering 
tribes. 

Moses has received so many assurances and con- 
fidences from Jehovah. How hard it is for the high- 
ly gifted and highly honored not to presume ! 

In what did Moses fail to carry out Jehovah's in- 
structions? What, exactly, was his sin? 

iyi7. The Edomites refuse passage through their 
land. 

Read Numbers 20 : 14-21. 



The Wilderness Journeyings 59 

Compare Belgium and Greece to-day. To allow 
the request was essentially an alliance with Israel 
against the inhabitants of the lands beyond. Who 
were the Edomites ? 

^18. The death of Aaron and the accession of 
Eleazar to the priesthood. 

Eead Numbers 20 : 22-29. 

^ 19. King Arad and his cities destroyed. 

Read Numbers 21 : 1-3. 

^20. The diflSculties of the life of the nonagricul- 
tural tribe and the punishment and the remedy for 
the popular complaint. 

Eead Numbers 21 : 4-9. 

What was the divine punishment? What was the 
remedy? and at whose instigation did Jehovah sug- 
gest it? 

^{21. Tribal movements and tribal songs. 

Eead Numbers 21 : 10-20. 

The book of the wars of Jehovah, probably a col- 
lection of poems, forms, as has been seen, a not in- 
frequent source of Old Testament history. 

^ 22. Tribal battles on the borders of the Land of 
Promise. 

Eead Numbers 21 : 21 to 22 : 1. 

What nations does Israel now attack? and with 
what result? 
21. Balak, Balaam, and Israel. 

Numbers 22 : 2 to 24 : 25. 

^ 1. These three chapters constitute the most wide- 
ly known and most popular part of the book of 
Numbers. The incidents here related are general fa- 
vorites and are of perennial interest. 



60 An Outline of Old Testament History 

]y 2. The situation. 

Read Numbers 22 : 2-4. 

Close your eyes and get before you a clear pic- 
ture of the situation. Recall the preceding victories 
and keep the situation in mind throughout the study 
of the present section. In this way only can one 
fully appreciate the Balaam-Balak incidents. Who 
were the Moabites ? 

^ 3. A non-Hebrew prophet of Jehovah and his no- 
ble refusal. 

Read Numbers 22 : 5-14. 

^4. Parleying with temptation, and the divine re- 
buke. 

Read Numbers 22 : 15-35. 

Get the progress of the story ; no comment is nec- 
essary. 

^ 5. The royal tribal reception and the sacrifice. 

Read Numbers 22 : 36 to 23 : Sah, 

^ 6. The prophet alone with God. 

Read Numbers 23 : 3c-5. 

^^And he went to a bare height." Consider the 
scene — alone, yet overlooking the world; a place to 
catch a vision of men and things in true perspec- 
tive ; a spiritual isolation open to voices from above. 
The hymn, ^^Could I but stand where Moses stood," 
might well be paralleled by one, ^^Could I but stand 
where Balaam stood." As the one might stimulate 
the hope of the future reward, the other might stim- 
ulate one to seize the marvelous opportunity of 
those in line with God's purposes. 

U 7. The message. 

Read Numbers 23 : 6-10. 



The Wilderness Journeyings 61 

No wonder he had a message ! 

^8. The prophet rings true, though parleying fur- 
ther, perhaps, with temptation. 

Read Numbers 23 : 11 to 24 : 24. 

The first of these oracles is one of the great poems 
of the Old Testament. What are the specific proph- 
ecies of the fourth cycle of oracles (24 : 15-24) ? 

1[ 9. The finale. 

Read Numbers 24 : 25. 

A simple sentence, but one containing the desti- 
ny of two lives. What had Balaam lost and gained ? 
How much honor in comparison could Balak have 
given him? 

22. Final Phases of the Wilderness Wanderings. 

Numbers 25 : 1 to 35 : 15, in part. 

1J1. Idolatries and immoralities. 

Read Numbers 25 : 1-9. 

What are the sins here mentioned ? 

^ 2. The reward of Phinehas for his zeal. 

Read Numbers 25 : 10-15. 

What was his reward? 

^3. What command did Jehovah give concerning 
the Midianites? 

Read Numbers 25 : 16-18. 

T[4. The second general census. 

Read Numbers 26 : 1-65. 

Census of the twelve — Ephraim and Manasseh 
figure separately — (1-51) ; the order concerning the 
allotment of Canaan (52-56) ; the census of the 
Levites (57-62) ; final statement (63-65). 

Tl 5. A special problem of inheritance. 



62 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read Numbers 27 : 1-11. 

A good illustration of the growth of common law 
and of the need and power of courts. 

^6. Moses nears the end, and the problem of the 
succession is solved. 

Read Numbers 27 : 12-23. 

In unsettled bodies politic the choice of a succes- 
sor is frequently the signal for a revolution. Com- 
pare the later Roman Empire and the Latin-Ameri- 
can republics. The sequel shows that Israel was 
fortunate in this instance. 

^ 7. The war on Midian. 

Read Numbers 31 : 1-24. 

Compare 25 : 16-18. 

Consider the primitive ideals of saving the wom- 
en and Moses's rebuke. But even Moses commands 
the saving of the girl children. 

Compare Section 14, paragraph 4. 

The large number of their own males killed in 
war causes conquerors frequently to spare the con- 
quered women. Compare the Sabine women in ear- 
ly Rome and the problem of war brides in the pres- 
ent European war situation. 

^8. In what way was the booty disposed of? 

Read Numbers 31 : 25-54. 

1|9. What agreement was made with the children 
of Reuben, Gad, and a part of Manasseh? and what 
followed the agreement ? 

Read Numbers 32 : 1-42. 

^10. The order of extermination of Canaanitish 
religions and of complete driving out of the inhab- 
itants. 



The Wilderness Journeyings 63 

Eead Numbers 33 : 50-56. 

^11. The prospective allotments of the nine and 
one-half tribes. 

Read Numbers 34 : 1-15. 

^ 12. The allotment commission. 

Eead Numbers 34 : 16-29. 

^ 13. The portion of the Levites. 

Eead Numbers 35 : 1-8. 

^ 14. Tne cities of refuge. 

Eead Numbers 35 : 9-15. 

The detailed laws do not concern us here ; but the 
general line of organization does^ since it is an in- 
tegral part of the general history. 

23. Summaries of the Wilderness Journeyings. 

Numbers 33 : 1-49 and Deuteronomy 1 : 1 to 4 : 40. 

^1. The ^^Numbers'' summary. 

Eead Numbers 33 : 1-49. 

The details of these summaries are beyond the 
scope of the present study because identifications 
are difficult and scholars divided. Look at any pro- 
posed map of the journeyings to get the view of an 
author upon whom you depend for such things. 

^2. The Deuteronomic summary: Moses's great 
resume-exhortation. 

Eead Deuteronomy 1 : 1 to 3 : 29. 

Eead also Deuteronomy 29 : 2-9. 

Get carefully the spirit of the Mosaic address. 

^ 3. The hortatory conclusion of the address. 

Eead Deuteronomy 4 : 1-40. 

In spite of the historical aspect of the most of the 
remainder of Deuteronomy, it is so thoroughly; 



64 An Outline of Old Testament History 

bound up with the religion and with the legal side 
of Israelitish life that the consideration of it will 
best be undertaken in connection with the study of 
the omitted passages of Exodus, Leviticus, and 
Numbers, and of the worship and religion of the Old 
Testament. 

24. The Last Days of Moses. 

Deuteronomy 31 : 1 to 34 : 12. 

^ 1. A farewell address. 

Read Deuteronomy 31 : 1-13. 

^2. A vision of the varied future. 

Read Deuteronomy 31 : 14-21. 

Tf3. The Song of Moses. 

Read Deuteronomy 31 : 22 to 32 : 47. 

What does the song say? Write a short sum- 
mary of it in your own words. 

Pick out what to you are the most significant and 
beautiful lines and ponder them. 

114. The command to ascend Mount Nebo. 

Read Deuteronomy 32 : 48-52. 

Tj 5. The blessing of Moses. 

Read Deuteronomy 33 : 1-29. 

Consult your commentary on this passage. 

U 6. The death and burial of Moses. 

Read Deuteronomy 34 : 1-12. 

The best interpretation in modern art of this pas- 
sage is, probably, Cecil Frances Alexander's poem, 
"The Burial of Moses'' : 

By Nebo's lonely mountain, 

On this side Jordan's wave, 
In a vale in the land of Moab, 

There lies a lonely grave; 



The Wilderness Journeyings 65 

But no man dug that sepulchre, 

And no man saw it e'er; 
For the angels of God upturned the sod. 

And laid the dead man there. 

That was the grandest funeral 

That ever passed on earth; 
But no man heard the trampling. 

Or saw the train go forth: 
Noiselessly as the daylight 

Comes when the night is done, 
And the crimson streak on ocean's cheek 

Grows into the great sun; 

Noiselessly as the springtime 

Her crown of verdure weaves, 
And all the trees on all the hills 

Open their thousand leaves — 
So without sound of music 

Or voice of them that wept, 
Silently down from the mountain crown 

The great procession swept. 

Perchance some bald old eagle 

On gray Beth-peor's height. 
Out of his rocky eyrie 

Looked on the wondrous sight. 



And the dark rock pines, like tossing plumes. 

Over his bier to wave ; 
And God's own hand, in that lonely land. 

To lay him in his grave. 

lonely tomb in Moab's land! 

O dark Beth-peor's hill! 
Speak to these curious hearts of ours. 

And teach them to be still. 
5 



CG All Outline of Old Testament History 

God hath his mysteries of grace — 

Ways that we cannot tell; 
He hides them deep, like the secret sleep 

Of him he loved so well. 

25. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Look carefully over the two chapters of the 
textbook and through your presumably now well- 
annotated Bible and get a general view of the his- 
tory contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, 
Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 

(2) Write a story of Moses's life and an estimate 
of his life and work as given in the passages studied. 

(3) Discuss briefly the social and political situa- 
tion of the Mosaic age as depicted and compare it 
with what you have learned of the patriarchal pe- 
riod. 

(4) Locate on the map the general geographical 
positions of Egypt, the Arabian Desert or Wilder- 
ness, and of Canaan and its various pre-Israelite in- 
habitants. 



CHAPTER V 

THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 
(Joshua 1:1 to Judges 2:5) 

26. The Campaigns of Conquest. 

Joshua 1 to 12. 

T[l. The nation and the promise and the new 
leader. 

Read Joshua 1 : 1-9. 

The promise becomes more national. It had been 
more personal to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even 
to Moses, who was called to create the nation and 
who received several times Jehovah's proposal to 
make him the father of an elect race when destruc- 
tion was threatened to the disobedient and murmur- 
ing Israelites. 

What is the command to Joshua? and what the 
personal promise to him ? Upon what is he to med- 
itate constantly? 

^2. Preparations for the invasion of the West 
Jordan country. 

Read Joshua 1 : 10-18. 

What previous agreement had been made with the 
Reubenites, Gadites, and a part of the Manasseh- 
ites? 

^ 3. The spies at the house of Rahab. 

Read Joshua 2 : 1-24. 

Why did Rahab save the life of the spies? What 
agreement did they make with her? Was Rahab a 

(67) 



68 ^An Outline of Old Testament History 

traitor? Were she and the Israelites justifiable or 
not in the light of the ideals of that age? 

1[ 4. Led by the ark, Israel crosses the Jordan. 

Eead Joshua 3 : 1-17. 

Compare the passage through the Eed Sea, Ex- 
odus 14. Dewey's command at Manila Bay was, 
^^Steam ahead''; Nelson's at Trafalgar, ^^England 
expects every man to do his duty." What was 
Joshua's command to the people (verse 5) ? These 
words are the core of much of the Jewish view of 
religion and life. 

^ 5. The stones in the river and at Gilgal. 

Eead Joshua 4 : 1-24. 

Note especially verses 9 and 20: the two monu- 
ments. What spot did the former mark ? What did 
the two and a half East Jordanic tribes do? 

^6. What was the effect of the passage of the 
Jordan on the kings of the Amorites and Canaan- 
ites? 

Eead Joshua 5 : 1. 

U7. The general circumcision and the observance 
of the Passover. 

Eead Joshua 5 : 2-12. 

^8. Joshua meets the captain of the host of Je- 
hovah. 

Eead Joshua 5 : 13-15. 

The host of Jehovah means probably the angelic 
host. 

Compare Moses at the burning bush, Exodus 
3 : 1-5. 

U 9. The fall of Jericho. 

Eead Joshua 6 : 1-20. 



The Conquest of Canaan 69 

This has been a general favorite among the Old 
Testament stories. Consider the stately tread of 
the priestly army, with the miracle in response to 
faith. 

^ 10. The wholesale destruction. 

Eead Joshua 6 : 21-27. 

What of Kahab and her family? What of the 
silver and gold and the vessels? Consider verse 21. 
What is your view of this action? Was it military 
necessity, primitive atrocity along with a "divine 
winking at the times of ignorance/' or simply a 
carrying out of divine punishment, or what? This 
is one of the problems of the Old Testament. Con- 
sider it well and get your own view. Eemember, 
however, that a conquest by tribes seeking a perma- 
nent home is vastly dififerent from a conquest by 
tribes or nations seeking plunder or tribute and 
glory or empire. 

^ 11. The defeat before Ai. 

Eead Joshua 7 : 1-26. 

The narrative recognizes two factors in the de- 
feat — overconfidence and a disobedience to the or- 
der completely to "devote'' the city. Upon what is 
the emphasis put? Early peoples have not devel- 
oped the sense of individuality; hence not merely 
Achan, but his whole family suffer. Perhaps such 
corporate as opposed to individual punishment is 
society's only sure protection in primitive condi- 
tions. By what method is Achan detected? A 
study of the use of the lot in the Bible would be an 
interesting topic for more advanced study. 

^ 12. The capture of Ai. 



70 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Bead Joshua 8:1-29. 

Note three differences: Achan disposed of and a 
strengthened discipline; more men and no overcon- 
fidence; effective strategy. In the last the psychic 
element plays largely. A primitive method of war 
is the effort to strike terror into the minds of the 
enemy. These psychic aspects on a different plane 
are effective to-day. Compare the censorship of re- 
portSj not merely for protecting army movements, 
but to keep the mind of the people keyed to the 
proper pitch. Stonevrall Jackson, it is said, main- 
tained that the Confederate victory at Bull Run did 
more harm to the Confederate army than a signal 
defeat could have done. 

Compare verses 18 and 26 with Exodus 17 : 11, 12. 

^ 13. A thanksgiving day. 

Bead Joshua 8 : 30-35. 

What was the program of celebration? 

][14. The confederacy against Israel. 

Bead Joshua 9:1, 2. 

Compare Joshua 5 : 1. 

IJIS. What was the stratagem of the Gibeonites? 

Bead Joshua 9 : 3-27. 

Note the sacredness of oaths and treaties. This 
is the basis of all social intercourse. When a man's 
or a nation's word cannot be trusted, nothing but 
war and suspicion can exist. Compare "He that 
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not." (Ps. 
15:4.) What service were the Gibeonites to per- 
form in the Israelitish social order? This is in ac- 
cord with the primitive custom of enslavement of 
conquered peoples- 



The Conquest of Ccmaan 71 

Ij 16. The conquest of the South. 

(1) Confederates versus confederates. 
Read Joshua 10 : 1-11. 

What attitude did the Canaanite confederacy take 
toward Gibeon ? What figured finally in the general 
rout? 

(2) The poem from the book of Jashar and the 
lengthened day. 

Eead Joshua 10 : 12-15. 

(3) The five kings. 
Read Joshua 10 : 16-27. 

Where did they hide? What was Joshua's or- 
der? and what their fate? 

(4) Summary of the further conquest. 
Eead Joshua 10 : 28-43. 

Tj 17. The conquest of the North. 

(1) The Battle of the Waters of Merom. 
Eead Joshua 11 : 1-9. 

(2) Destruction of the cities. 
Eead Joshua 11 : 10-15. 

11" 18. A general summary. 

Eead Joshua 11 : 16-20. 

Note the "long time" of verse 18 and the harden- 
ing of the hearts. Compare the hardening of Pha- 
raoh's heart. 

^ 19. The conquest of the giants of the hill country. 

Eead Joshua 11 : 21-23. 

U 20. List of kings conquered by Moses and Joshua. 

Read Joshua 12 : 1-24. 

27. The Division of the Land. 

Joshua 13 to 21. 

^ 1. The land yet to conquer. 



72 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read Joshua 13 : 1-6. 

Note the confession here of the incompleteness of 
the conquest. 

^ 2. The allotment of the East Jordanic country. 

Bead Joshua 13 : 7-33. 

A detailed knowledge of these allotments is be- 
yond the scope of the present study, but consult 
your map in each case and get a general view of the 
boundaries of the several tribes. 

TI3. Introduction to the division of the West Jor- 
danic lands. 

Eead Joshua 14 : 1-5. 

What is said of the allotment to the Levites ? 

^4. The claim and the inheritance of Caleb. 

Read Joshua 15 : 6-15. 

^5. The allotment to Judah. 

Read Joshua 15 : 1-63. 

Note especially verses 13 and 63 and consult the 
map for the general boundaries. 

^6. The allotment to Joseph considered as two 
tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. 

Read Joshua 16 : 1 to 17 : 18. 

Note the failure to drive out completely the Ca- 
naanites (16 : 10 and 17 : 12, 13) . 

What was Joseph's complaint? Consider Josh- 
ua's answer : "Great people have great power ; there- 
fore get to work and conquer more." 

^ 7. A commission on further division. 

Read Joshua 18 : 1-10. 

^ 8. The allotment to Benjamin. 

Read Joshua 18 : 11-28. 

^ 9. The allotment to Simeon. 



The Conquest of Canaan 73 

Eead Joshua 19 : 1-9. 

What was the relation of Simeon's allotment to 
Judah and its territory? 

11 10. The allotment to Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, 
Naphtali, and Dan. 

Eead Joshua 19 : 10-48. 

Note in verse 47 the reference to the migration 
of Dan described in Judges 18. 

^11. The allotment to Joshua. 

Eead Joshua 19 : 49, 50. 

^12. Formal conclusion of the list of secular al- 
lotments. 

Eead Joshua 19 : 51. 

^ 13. The assignment of cities of refuge. 

Eead Joshua 20 : 1-9. 

T[ 14. The assignment of cities for the Levites. 

Eead Joshua 21 : 1-42. 

What was the total number? 

1J15. Formal conclusion of the account of the al- 
lotments. 

Eead Joshua 21 : 43-45. 

28. Joshua's Farewell Discourses. 

Joshua 22 to 24. 

^1. What did Joshua say to the East Jordanic 
tribes in his special farewell address? 

Eead Joshua 22 : 1-8. 

T[2. The East Jordan altar. 

Eead Joshua 22 : 9-34. 

Why did the West Jordanic Israelites object to 
the altar? 

Note the preparations for war and the commis- 



74 An Outline of Old Testament History 

sion of investigation. Who was its chairman? 
What was the result of the investigation ? 

II 3. The first general farewell address. 

Read Joshua 23 : 1-16. 

Put in five or six short sentences or clauses the 
substance of this address. 

Tf 4. The second general farewell address. 

Eead Joshua 24 : 1-25. 

(1) The historical summary. Consider this as a 
summary of the history from Genesis 11 : 27 to the 
death of Joshua — the story of a process of election 
and redemption. 

(2) Joshua's colloquy with the people and the sol- 
emn covenant : "Choose you" ; "I choose Jehovah'' ; 
"We choose Jehovah"; "Ye cannot serve Jehovah"; 
"Nay, we will." 

^ 5. The stone of witness. 

Eead Joshua 24:26-28. 

Where did Joshua record the covenant made? 
What is meant by this? What was the stone to 
mean? 

^ 6. The death of Joshua and the aftermath. 

Read Joshua 24:29-31. 

^7. The reburial of Joseph and the death of 
Eleazar. 

Read Joshua 24 : 32, 33. 

29. Review and Statement of the General Character of 
the Books of Joshua and Judges. 

Ijl. Read at a single sitting the book of Joshua, 
getting the general impression of the majestic move- 
ment of a conquering army under the leadership of 
Joshua and the direction and care of Jehovah. 



The Conquest oj Canaan 75 

T[2. Now that the habit of continuous reading of 
the Bible has been formed (if, indeed, it had not al- 
ready been formed before the beginning of these 
studies), read the book of Judges at one sitting for a 
general preliminary view of its contents, comparing 
and contrasting its general style and character with 
the book of Joshua. 

U 3. The book of Joshua, as has been seen, is some- 
times grouped with the first five books of the Bible 
and the whole called the Hexateuch. It continues 
the narrative of Deuteronomy and betrays in a 
marked degree the influence of that book. It gets 
its name either because it recounts Joshua's leader- 
ship in the conquest of Canaan, or perhaps because 
Joshua was believed to be the historian of his own 
doings, or for both of these reasons combined. The 
sections in our study, 1 to 12, 13 to 21, 22 to 24, may 
be said to correspond to the main divisions of the 
book, though most scholars put chapter 22 with the 
second division instead of with the third or else make 
only two divisions of the whole, chapters 1 to 12 and 
13 to 24, respectively. 

TJ4. The book of Judges tells of the life of the He- 
brew tribes between the entrance into Canaan and 
the beginnings of movements looking to national 
unity. Judges is so named because it recounts the 
history of the number of leaders bearing that title. 
But we must beware of thinking of these men as 
judges in our modern sense. It is true that a large 
number of the decisions of disputes between the 
members of various tribes fell to the leaders of these 
tribes, but this was only a small part of their work. 



76 "An Outline of Old Testament History 

The names "heroes/^ ^^deliverers/' or "chieftains" 
would give a better idea of the character and work 
of these men. 

Judges 1 : 1 to 2 : 5 is a prefatory statement of the 
movement of the tribes, upon which follows an ac- 
count of the death of Joshua parallel to that in the 
close of the book bearing his name and a general 
statement of the character of the history to be re- 
lated. The succeeding section from 2:7 to 16:31, 
after making a brief reference to Othniel, Ehud, 
and Shamgar, presents an account of how Deborah 
aroused Barak and a few of the tribes to assert 
Israel's power in the name of Israel's God; of the 
remarkable career of Gideon, followed by the mis- 
erable weakness of his son Abimelech (chapters 
6-10) ; then of the exploits of Jephthah embedded in 
references to five lesser judges and, at the closing of 
the section, of the interesting career of Samson. 
Chapters 17-21 furnish supplementary insight into 
the character of the times by relating respectively 
the migration of the Danites and the war upon Ben- 
jamin. 

30. The Judges Account of Some Early Conquests in 
Canaan. 

Judges 1 : 1 to 2 : 5. 

Tl 1. The conquest of the South. 

(1) The conquest of Bezek. 

Bead Judges 1 : 1-7. 

What did the conquerors do to Adoni-bezek? 
This mutilation rendered him unfit for ancient war- 
fare. Anthropologists point out that it is the thumb 



The Conquest of Canaan 77 

that enables man to be a tool-using animal. It ac- 
complishes the opposition of one finger to the other 
four. What does Adoni-bezek see in his fate? 

(2) Jerusalem and its environs. 
Eead Judges 1 : 8, 9. 

(3) Caleb's conquests. 
Bead Judges 1 : 10-15. 

(4) Other conquests. 
Eead Judges 1 : 16-21. 

Note the presence of the Kenites. Compare the 
mixed multitude of Exodus 12:38 and consider 
again the compositeness of the Hebrew people. 

Tj 2. The conquest of Central and North Palestine. 

Eead Judges 1 : 22-36. 

How far was the conquest complete? 

113. The angel of Jehovah rebukes the people at 
Bochim. 

Eead Judges 2:1-5. 



CHAPTER VI 

THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES: THE PRENATIONAL 
STAGE OF THE OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE 

(Judges 2:6 to 21:25) 
31. Introductory Statements. 

^1. The second generation. 

Read Judges 2 : 6-10. 

The test of any family or social order is the gen- 
eration following the one that makes its great he- 
roic rise. It has been said that in America there 
are three generations from shirt sleeves to shirt 
sleeves — a man makes a fortune, his children dissi- 
pate it, and his grandchildren must begin at the 
bottom again. As money inherited is less prized 
than money made, so ideals inherited seem less 
prized than ideals made in the fires of struggle. 

][2, Introductory summary of the history and 
statement of the philosophy of history. 

Read Judges 2 : 11-23. 

Napoleon said: "Providence is on the side of the 
heaviest artillery." Loyalty to Jehovah is the 
touchstone of a nation's strength, according to this 
passage. 

^3. The nations left in Canaan and the problem 
of finding the explanation of that fact. 

Read Judges 3 : 1-6 and compare 1 : 19 and 2 : 3 
and 22. What four reasons figure in the explana- 
tion? 

(78) 



The Period of the Judges 79 

32. The First Three Judges. 

Judges 3 : 7-31. 

1[1. Othniel. 

Eead Judges 3 : 7-11. 

Here is given only a statement or two concerning 
Othniel, embedded in the philosophical explanation 
of the course of the history, which is as follows: 
Israel's sin, punishment, repentance, salvation 
through a divinely-commissioned leader, and peace 
and prosperity following. 

Who was the oppressor? Of what family and 
kinship was the judge? 

II 2. Ehud. 

Eead Judges 3 : 12-30. 

After the next lapse, who was the instrument of 
punishment? and for how long? 

Eelate the story of Ehud's deliverance. Consider 
the primitiveness of the ideals of the time. Changes 
of government through assassination are frequent in 
Oriental states. 

^3. Shamgar. 

Eead Judges 3 : 31. 

Note that no chronology or setting is given here. 
Compare Judges 5 : 6. Compare also Samson 
(Judges 15:15). 

33. Deborah and Barak. 

Judges 4 and 5. 

^1. Two accounts of the history of Deborah and 
Barak are preserved — a prose account in Judges 4 
and the Song of Deborah in Judges 5. 

|[2. The prose account 



80 An Outline of Old Testament History 

(1) Who is the oppressor this time? Who is Is- 
rael's judge? and what course does she take? 

Eead Judges 4 : 1-9. 

(2) The battle. 
Eead Judges 4 : 10-16. 

(3) How did Sisera meet his death? 
Eead Judges 4 : 17-22. 

(4) What was the aftermath? 
Eead Judges 4 : 23, 24 and 5 : 316. 

^ 3. The poem, a great piece of primitive literature. 

(1) Eead Judges 5 : 1-5. 

The greatness of Jehovah ; he induces willing sac- 
rifice amongst the people ; before him the earth trem- 
bles. Consider this description by an early Hebrew 
of a God not in but back of nature. 

(2) Eead Judges 5 : 6-8. 

In what respect were the conditions of peace and 
prosperity literally reversed (verse 6) ? Consider 
the striking character of this description. 

(3) The paean of joy. 
Eead Judges 5 : 9-11. 

Where shall the story of heroism and victory be 
recited? "Luxurious, peaceful homes" and "quiet 
watering places'' — compare Eebekah and Eachel at 
the well. Contrast this with verse 6. 

(4) The recital of the assembling forces. 
Eead Judges 5 : 12-18. 

Which tribes joined in the fight? Which stood 
aloof? Which of the twelve are not mentioned? 
Consider how in this prenational stage a temporary 
confederacy is formed against pressing enemies in 



The Period of the Judges 81 

one or another quarter. This condition of affairs 
holds throughout the period. 

(5) The battle. 
Eead Judges 5 : 19-22. 

What was the decisive factor in the defeat of 
Israel's enemies ? Compare Joshua 10 : 11. 

(6) Eead Judges 5:23: the curse of Meroz 
(why?). 

(7) The death of Sisera. 
Eead Judges 5:24-27. 
How does Jael kill him ? 

(8) The mother waiting for the chariot that never 
comes. Note her confidence in her son, the social 
idealSj the gloating of the primitive victor over a 
mother's grief. 

Eead Judges 5 : 28-30. 

(9) The concluding prayer. 
Eead Judges 5 : 31. 

^[4. Now read the poem through, noting the vari- 
ous turns of thought and the power and beauty of 
the whole. 

34. Gideon and Abimelech. 

Judges 6 to 9. 

^ 1. A new kind of foe. 

Eead Judges 6 : 1-6. 

Previous foes have been settled peoples in and 
around Canaan. What kind of a people were the 
Midianites (verse 5) ? Who were the xlmalekites 
(Ex. 17 : 8-16) ? Compare the nomad life of the He- 
brews. When, however, they reached Canaan they 
became home seekers, not marauders like the Mid- 
6 



82 An Outline of Old Testament History 

ianites. Continued success might have made the 
Midianites also settle in Palestine. 

^2. What explanation does a prophetic rebuke 
make of the situation ? 

Eead Judges 6 : 7-10. 

Tl" 3. Gideon's vision in the wine press. 

Bead Judges 6:11-24. 

What was Gideon doing in the wine press? Why 
was he there? Relate the conversation that ensued. 
What miracle is performed at the ensuing sacrifice? 

If 4. The champion of Jehovah and the altar of 
Baal. 

Eead Judges 6 : 25-32. 

What does Gideon do? Why secretly? What 
proposal does Joash make to save Gideon from the 
mob? 

^ 5. Gideon and the sign of the fleece. 

Read Judges 6 : 33-40. 

Gideon has acted on the commission of the angel. 
He has broken down the altar of Baal, which bold 
act establishes his prestige amongst the people, and 
he now gathers his army; but he seeks further di- 
vine assurance. Relate the account of the sign 
through which he is reassured. 

Tj 6. Picking his three hundred men. 

Eead Judges 7 : 1-8. 

What was the total number of men answering 
Gideon's call? How does he reduce the number to 
ten thousand? how still further to three hundred? 
Some regard the test as a special divine sign; oth- 
ers think that Gideon chose the men who showed 
themselves by their method of drinking to be the 



The Period of the Judges 83 

more trustworthy men for the special task. Which 
is your view ? 

^ 7. Gideon spies in the Midianite camp. 

Eead Judges 7 : 9-14. 

What conversation did Gideon overhear in the 
camp ? What state of mind amongst the Midianites 
did it reveal ? Do you think the report of the assem- 
bling of the thirty-two thousand men had effected 
this? 

^ 8. The attack of the three hundred. 

Eead Judges 7: 15-22. 

The effort to strike terror into the hearts of the 
enemy was a frequent strategy amongst the an- 
cients and a very effective one against raw recruits 
and superstitious or mob-susceptible minds. Com- 
pare "terrible as an army with banners" (Song of 
Songs 6:4). Compare the march of Macduff on 
Macbeth in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (Act V., Scenes 
4 to 6). 

Tl 9. The general pursuit. 

Eead Judges 7 : 23-25. 

Compare 5:13-18. What tribes are in this spe- 
cial Gideon confederacy? What tribes were under 
Deborah and Barak against Sisera? Compare the 
two lists with the list of the twelve tribes. 

^ 10. The complaint of Ephraim allayed. 

Eead Judges 8 : 1-3. 

Ephraim was the leading tribe of Northern Israel. 
Consider the shrewdness and prudence of Gideon's 
answer. An insistence on tribal rights and dignity 
would probably have meant war. 



84: An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 11. Gideon's pursuit of the Midianite kings and 
the revenge upon Succoth and Penuel. 

Eead Judges 8 : 4-21. 

Eelate the story. The law of blood revenge de- 
manded that Gideon do all he could to revenge his 
brother's death. This law was a great pillar of an- 
cient society before the rise of courts of justice. 
What may, therefore, have been the motive back of 
Gideon's warfare that opened his mind to the recep- 
tion of divine visions and impressions (verses 18, 
19) ? Moses had already espoused the cause of his 
people when he fled from Egypt and in the years of 
wilderness life had had time to think deeply when 
the voice of God came to him. So Paul had been 
deeply touched by Stephen's death when he heard 
the voice from the skies. Does God ever call a man 
to a great task unless his longings and desires pre- 
pare the way ? 

^ 12. Gideon declines the kingship. 

Eead Judges 8:22, 23. 

^ 13. Gideon's ephod. 

Eead Judges 8 : 24-28. 

See your commentary on this passage and your 
Bible dictionary on the ephod. 

^ 14. The death of Gideon and the lapse of Israel. 

Eead Judges 8:29-35. 

^15. What did Abimelech conspire to do? and 
what steps did he take? 

Eead Judges 9 : 1-6. 

Consider the primitive Oriental and his whole- 
sale murder. 

^ 16. Jotham and his fable. 



The Period of the Judges 85 

Read Judges 9 : 7-21. 

Repeat the fable. It is the finest specimen of the 
early wisdom literature of the Israelites. 

U 17. The Shechemite revolt and the destruction of 
the Shechemites' tower. 

Read Judges 9 : 22-49. 

Relate the story briefly in your own words. 

^ 18. How did Abimelech meet his death ? 

Read Judges 9 : 50-57. 

35. Tola and Jair. 

Judges 10:1-5. 

^1. Tola and Jair belong to the group of minor 
judges of whom little is said, probably because their 
exploits were not so heroic or so significant as the 
others. 

T[2. Tola. 

Read Judges 10 : 1, 2. 

Of what tribe was he? Was this tribe in the war 
against Midian under Gideon? Was it with Barak 
against Sisera? 

H 3. Jair. 

Read Judges 10 : 3-5. 

With Jair and Jephthah, who follows, the signifi- 
cant movements turn to the other side of Jordan. 
Where was Gilead ? Locate it on the map. 

36. Jephthah. 

Judges 10 : 6 to 12 : 7. 

TJl. The so-called Deuteronomic formula or set- 
ting. 

Read Judges 10 : 6-16. 



86 An Outline of Old Testament History 

These constantly-recurring statements of the phi- 
losophy of history and of the course of events be- 
tween the rules of the individual "judges/' or "de- 
liverers/' have, because of their similarity of view- 
point with the philosophy of history announced in 
Deuteronomy, frequently been called by scholars the 
Deuteronomic formulae. Sometimes they are only a 
sentence, sometimes more extended statements. 
What is the reason there given for national disaster? 

^2. Israel seeks a leader. 

Eead Judges 10 : 17, 18. 

Here the tables are turned. Hitherto the leader 
felt the impulse to deliver the people and had to 
arouse them. 

^3. The agreement with Jephthah. 

Eead Judges 11 : 1-11. 

Who was Jephthah? What was the agreement 
with him? 

^4. Primitive diplomatic correspondence. 

Bead Judges 11 : 12-28. 

What are the claims of Israel and Ammon, re- 
spectively? What is Jephthah's theology (verse 
24) ? Compare the higher view of Amos 9 : 7. 

1j 5. Jephthah's vow. 

Eead Judges 11: 29-31. 

The margin of the Authorized Version on verse 
31 reads "that which" instead of "whatsoever.'' The 
Eevised Version margin reads "whosoever." Both 
margins read "forth of the doors of my house." The 
valiant bandit, now become king of the Gileadites, 
vows a sacrifice. He at least does not preclude a 
human sacrifice — only he did not expect his daugh- 



The Period of the Judges 87 

ter to be the one to meet him first. The high reli- 
gion of Israel rises from a background of human 
sacrifice. Compare Section 7, paragraph 8, and 
Psalm 106:35-37. 

1j 6. The victory and the victim of the vow. 

Read Judges 11 : 32-40. 

Note the noble resignation of the girl: her only 
regret is that she must die childless. 

^7. The complaint of Ephraim and the result. 

Read Judges 12 : 1-6. 

Compare Gideon's answer (Judges 8:1-3) to the 
Ephraimites with Jephthah's. Verse 6 has become 
the basis of a common proverb condemning partisan 
shibboleths. 

II 8. The death of Jephthah. 

Read Judges 12 : 7. 

37. Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. 

Read Judges 12 : 8-15. 

These are three minor judges. Compare Section 
35, paragraph 1. From what section of the country 
did each of these three come? There are two Beth- 
lehems, one in Judah and one in Zebulun. With- 
out deciding whether Ibzan's home was Bethlehem 
of Judah or not, consider the unimportant part 
played in Hebrew history by the tribe of Judah be- 
fore the time of David. 

3S. Samson. 

Judges 13 to 16. 

^ 1. The new enemy. 

Read Judges 13 : 1. 

The Philistines have been mentioned before, but 



88 An Outline of Old Testament History 

now they become the chief foe of Israel. The ap- 
pearance of this powerful neighbor as an enemy 
marks the beginning of a new era with Israel, lead- 
ing to tribal consolidation under a permanent king. 
Locate Philistia on the map. 

U2. Manoah and his wife, a childless couple of 
the tribe of Dan. 

(1) What was the angePs promise and injunction 
to Manoah's wife? 

Eead Judges 13:2-7. 

(2) Manoah's prayer and ofifering. 
Eead Judges 13 : 8-23. 

Eelate the story. The greatest interpretation of 

this passage is Eembrandt's painting now in the 

Dresden Art Gallery, "The Ofifering of Manoah." 

Compare the withholding of the angel's name with 

Genesis 32:24-32. 
What was the argument between Manoah and 

his wife concerning the vision? 

1[3. The birth of Samson. 

Eead Judges 13:24,25. 

^ 4. Samson's choice of a wife. 

Eead Judges 14 : 1-4. 

His parents object to the marriage; so, instead of 
bringing his wife to his father's house, she remains 
with her own people after the manner of a lower 
matriarchal form of marriage. 

^ 5. The feast and the riddle. 

Eead Judges 14 : 5-19. 

Consider the primitive picture here drawn. 

What feat did Samson perform on the way to 
Timnah? 



The Period of the Judges 89 

What was his riddle? what the wager? and how 
was the riddle solved ? 

The riddle was not infrequent amongst ancient 
peoples. These folk couplets of Samson's feast form 
one of the oldest examples of Hebrew wisdom poet- 
ry. Compare Section 34, paragraph 16. As in a few 
other instances in Hebrew poetry, rhyme appears 
here in the original. 

T[6. Samson's wife given to another, and his re- 
venge. 

Eead Judges 14 : 20 to 15 : 8. 

What method of revenge did Samson use this 
time? What counter revenges followed? Note that 
the previous judges were regular military tribal 
leaders. Jephthah, like David later, became for a 
while the leader of a group of bandits (Judges 
11 : 3), but Samson through his superhuman strength 
harasses and punishes his enemies by individual 
feats. 

T[7. Delivered up by the men of Judah, Samson 
slays three thousand Philistines with the jawbone of 
an ass. 

Eead Judges 15 : 9-17. 

^8. Samson's thirst miraculously relieved. 

Bead Judges 15 : 18-20. 

U 9. What is his next feat ? and what the circum- 
stances? 

Read Judges 16 : 1-3. 

IJIO. Samson and Delilah. 

Read Judges 16 : 4-22. 

Tell the story. What was the result of the wom- 
an's wiles? 



90 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Note the primitive social standards of the period 
of the judges: Gideon's wives (Judges 8:30, 31); 
Jephthah's birth (11:1). Samson's exploits are 
connected with three women : his Timnahite wife, 
the harlot of Gaza, and Delilah. 

^ 11. Samson is avenged in his death. 

Read Judges 16:23-31. 

Describe the scene. 

39. Micah, the Priest, and the Danite Migration, 

Judges 17 and 18. 

^1. The book of Judges turns now from the ac- 
counts of individual heroes to several incidents 
which for us throw much light upon some phases of 
early Hebrew life. 

If 2. Micah, his mother, and the image. 

Read Judges 17:1-6. 

^3. A family priest is secured. 

Read Judges 17:7-13. 

]f4. The Israelites, after crossing into Canaan, 
were slow about settling down to permanent bound- 
aries. Readjustments were being made for some 
time. One such readjustment is the migration of 
the Danites. 

^5. The Danite spies. 

Read Judges 18 : 1-6. 

Through whom do they inquire of Jehovah? and 
with what result? 

^ 6. The report of the spies. 

Read Judges 18 : 7-10. 

^7. The migration of the Danites, the stolen im- 
ages, and the purchasable priest. 



The Period of the Judges 91 

Read Judges 18 : 11-31. 

What a picture of primitive life and ideals ! 

40. The Levite and His Concubine. 

Judges 19 to 21. 

]fl. Quarrel and reconciliation. 

Eead Judges 19 : 1-8. 

The translation of verse 2 is uncertain. Consider 
the characteristics of Oriental leave-taking. Such 
customs as this made Jesus command his disciples 
to "salute no man by the way." 

T[2. The inhospitality of the Benjamites. 

Eead Judges 19 : 9-21. 

^3. The bestiality of the Benjamite mob. 

Read Judges 19 : 22-28. Compare Genesis 19 : 1-11. 

The ofifer of the Levite's host and of Lot illus- 
trate the sacredness of hospitality and of the strang- 
er amongst primitive peoples. The brutal action of 
the Levite (verse 25) reflects not only his own heart- 
lessness, but also the practically slave status of 
woman. Compare the ofifer of Lot in the Genesis pas- 
sage. 

^4. The Levite's appeal to all Israel. 

Read Judges 19 : 29 to 20 : 11. 

Consider how horribly realistic is this primitive 
method of making a vivid appeal for justice. What 
is the result of the appeal ? 

^ 5. Israel's demand and the refusal. 

Read Judges 20 : 12-16. 

^ 6. Initial defeats and final victory. 

Read Judges 20 : 17-48. 

Relate the story. How were the Israelites finally 



92 An Outline of Old Testament History 

successful? What was the result of the slaughter? 
What became of the Benjamite women and chil- 
dren? 

^7. Israel has compassion upon the Benjamites, 
and provision is made for them. 

Kead Judges 21. 

Consider the sacredness of ancient oath and the 
horror (verse 10) of ancient warfare. 

41. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Read again Judges at one sitting, getting a 
general view of the social, political, and moral con- 
ditions of the period. 

(2) Read Joshua again at a sitting and compare 
the general character of the two books, Joshua and 
Judges. 

(3) Compare Gideon and Jephthah as heroes and 
as men. Compare each with Samson. What is your 
estimate of the moral and religious status and view- 
point of these three men ? 

(4) What is the philosophy of history of Judges? 

(5) What political and moral situations show 
themselves in the song of Deborah? What is the 
historical value of ancient poems? 



CHAPTER VII 

THE FOUNDATIONS OF NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ES- 
TABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY 

(1 Samuel 1 to 30) 
42. Samuel the Prophet of All Israel. 

1 Samuel 1 : 1 to 4 : la. 

^1. The barren Hannah and the child of prayer 
and promise. 

Read 1 Samuel 1 : 1-28. 

Compare Sarah, Genesis 11:30; Rebekah, 25:21; 
Rachel, 29:31. Recount the story of this passage 
and compare the story of Manoah's wife and their 
offering (Judges 13). The longing for motherhood 
and fatherhood runs through Israelitish life, the 
instinct being abetted by the social standards. 
Compare 1 Samuel 1 : 23-28 and Genesis 22. What 
a world of development between the two methods of 
dedicating to God an only son ! 

The story of the birth and childhood of Samuel is 
another general favorite amongst the Old Testa- 
ment stories. 

T[2. Hannah's song. 

Read 1 Samuel 2 : 1-10. 

The song should be read for its own sake. Its in- 
terest is personal rather than historical. Compare 
Mary's song in Luke 1 : 46-55 with this. 

113. What was the behavior of Eli's sons? 

Read 1 Samuel 2 : 11-17. 

(93) 



91 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 4. Samuel and his parents. 

Eead 1 Samuel 2 : 18-21. 

^ 5. The predicted doom of Eli's house. 

Read 1 Samuel 2 : 22-36. 

What was the sin of Eli? and what the punish- 
ment (verse 32) ? Upon whom does the hope for a 
new priesthood settle? 

|[ 6. Jehovah speaks to Samuel. 

Eead 1 Samuel 3 : 1-18. 

This is the heart of the universally-loved story. 
What Rembrandt has done for Manoah's offering 
— Section 38, paragraph 2, (2) — Sir Joshua Reyn- 
olds has done for the child Samuel. Copies of his 
great picture are sold in art stores. 

Relate the story of Samuel's call. 

If 7. A prophet of all Israel: a first step in na- 
tional unity. 

Read 1 Samuel 3 : 19 to 4 : la. 

43. The Establishment of the Monarchy. 

1 Samuel 4 : 16 to 12 : 25. 

IJl. The new enemy (Section 38, paragraph 1) 
threatens Israel's independence: a second factor 
forcing Israel to national unity. 

Read 1 Samuel 4 : 16-9. 

What does Israel do after an initial defeat? How 
is their action received by the Philistines? 

^2. What was the result of the Israelitish strat- 
egy? 

Read 1 Samuel 4 : 10, 11. 

US. The death of Eli and the birth of Ichabod. 

Read 1 Samuel 4 : 12-22. 



The Foundations of National Unity 95 

What was the relative importance attached by 
Eli to the general defeat and the capture of the ark ? 
Why ? What is the meaning of the expression "Icha- 
bod is written on the banners" of a nation or indi- 
vidual ? 

^4. The ark among the Philistines. 

Bead 1 Samuel 5 : 1-12. 

What happened to Dagon in the presence of the 
ark? What to the cities of Ashdod, Gath, and Ek- 
ron? 

A common primitive idea was that w^hen a na- 
tion was conquered it proved the superiority of the 
god of the conquerors. Who was conquered in this 
case, Jehovah or Israel? Why, according to the 
book of Samuel, was Israel conquered? 

^ 5. The return of the ark. 

Eead 1 Samuel 6 : 1-18. 

What was the report of the Philistine diviners 
upon the proposal to return the ark? and what test 
did they suggest ? What was the result of the test ? 

^6. What did the men of Bethshemesh do? and 
with what result? 

Eead 1 Samuel 6 : 19-21. 

^7. What was the immediately succeeding his- 
tory of the ark? What was the challenge of Sam- 
uel? 

Read 1 Samuel 7 : 1-4. 

][8. The assembly at Mizpah and the turn of the 
tide. 

Readl Samuel 7:5-14. 

Compare Samuel's offering and prayer with the 
arms of Moses in Exodus 17 : 10-12 and the javelin 



96 An Outline of Old Testament History 

of Joshua in Joshua 8:26. Note, further, the dis- 
comfiture of the Philistines; the Ebenezer, stone of 
help; the general peace, the word "Amorites" being 
used as "a general name for the native races of Ca- 
naan.'' 

|[9. Samuel's circuit. 

Keadl Samuel 7 : 15-17. 

^ 10. Israel asks a king. 

Eead 1 Samuel 8 : 1-9. 

What two reasons are given for wanting a king? 
How does Samuel take the request? and what is Je- 
hovah's answer? 

TJ 11. The social cost of royalty. 

Bead 1 Samuel 8 : 10-22. 

What return (verse 20) in service is expected 
from the king? 

^ 12. A search for stray asses. 

Read 1 Samuel 9 : 1-14. 

A very simple, primitive picture. Failing to find 
the strayed asses, Saul and his servant seek advice 
from the seer, to whom they expect to pay a fee. 

^ 13. Samuel finds his man. 

Eead 1 Samuel 9 : 15-21. 

What is Samuel's assurance concerning the asses? 
How does Saul greet Samuel's further intimations ? 

^ 14. The anointing of Saul. 

Read 1 Samuel 9 : 22 to 10 : 1. 

Note : The feast and the guests of honor ; the pri- 
vate conference; the anointing. Concerning what 
do you suppose they communed upon the housetop? 

IJIS. What three events does Samuel predict as a 
sign to Saul? 



The Foundations of National Unity 97 

Eead 1 Samuel 10 : 2-9. 

^16. "Is Saul also among the prophets?'^ 

Eead 1 Samuel 10 : 10-16. 

Tl 17. The monarchy established at Mizpah. 

Eead 1 Samuel 10 : 17-27. 

Where was Saul when a king was sought for Is- 
rael? Was the allegiance to Saul unanimous? 

^ 18. Saul to the rescue of Jabesh-Gilead. 

Eead 1 Samuel 11 : 1-11. 

What demand did the Ammonites make? and 
what respite did they give? What was Saul's ob- 
ject-lesson method of calling Israel to arms? Com- 
pare the Levite's plea for his concubine. Judges 
19:28-30. What was the result of his call and of 
the battle? 

T[19. What was the attitude of Saul's partisans 
and of Saul himself toward the disaffected element 
of the people? 

Eead 1 Samuel 11 : 12, 13. 

^20. The kingdom renewed at Gilgal and the ad- 
dress of Samuel. 

Eead 1 Samuel 11 : 14 to 12 : 25. 

Samuel's address is a summary of the history in 
the spirit of the Old Testament philosophy of his- 
tory. What is Samuel's summary of the present 
situation and his warning and promise for the fu- 
ture? 

44. Saul, King. 

1 Samuel 13 : 1 to 16 : 13. 
Ifl. The revolt of Israel. 
Eead 1 Samuel 13 : 1-7. 

7 



98 An Outline of Old Testament History 

A small body of brave men create a situation 
which demands action by all. Compare the Boston 
Tea Party and the minutemen at Lexington. What 
was the feeling of the Israelitish people when they 
heard of the bold deed ? 

Tf2. What was the sin that caused Saul's break 
with Samuel and his rejection from the kingship ? 

Read 1 Samuel 13 : 8-14. 

113. What was the situation in Israel? 

Eead 1 Samuel 13 : 15-23. 

^4. Jonathan's daring attack on the Philistine 
garrison. 

Read 1 Samuel 11 : 1-14. 

What did Jonathan take as a divine sign? How 
many did Jonathan and his armor-bearer slay ? 

T[ 5. What was the sequel of Jonathan's bold deed ? 

Read 1 Samuel 14 : 15-22. 

Note especially verse 22. 

^6. Jonathan violates Saul's taboo. 

Read 1 Samuel 14:23-35. 

What was Saul's taboo ? What did Jonathan do ? 
and what did he think of the taboo ? What was the 
sin of the people when the period of taboo was over? 
and vv^hat order does Saul give? 

]\ 7. The sequel to the violated taboo. 

Read 1 Samuel 14 : 36-46. 

When the oracle refuses to respond, where does 
Saul look for a reason? Whom does the sacred lot 
settle upon? (Compare the case of Achan, Joshua 
7:16-21.) Jonathan heroically says, "I am willing 
to die," but what course of action do the people 



The Foundations of National Unity 99 

pursue? What do you think of this action of the 
people? 

^8. SauPs wars and his family. 

Read 1 SamuelU : 47-52. 

Tj 9. Saul defeats the Amalekites. 

Read 1 Samuel 15 : 1-9. 

Who were the Amalekites? Compare Exodus 
17:8-15. What was Samuel's command? and how 
did Saul carry it out? 

^ 10. The break between Saul and Samuel. 

Read 1 Samuel 15 : 10-33. 

Describe the meeting of Saul and Samuel. What 
is SamuePs judgment upon Saul? What does he 
do to Agag? What do you think of the religious 
and theological problems involved in the action of 
Samuel? 

|[ 11. Israel's new hope. 

Read 1 Samuel 15 : 34 to 16 : 13. 

Relate the story of the anointing of David. 

45. Saul and David. 

1 Samuel 16 : 14 to 20 : 42. 

^ 1. A court musician for the melancholy king. 

Read 1 Samuel 16 : 14-23. 

What Rembrandt and Reynolds have done on the 
canvas for Manoah's offering and the child Samuel, 
respectively (compare Section 38, paragraph 2 (2), 
and Section 42, paragraph 6), Browning has done 
in poetry for David's appearance as court musician 
before Saul. Get and read Browning's "Saul." 

1[2. Who was Goliath? and what was his chal- 
lenoje? 



100 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read 1 Samuel 17 : 1-11. 

^3. Why does David come to camp? and what 
situation does he find? 

Read 1 Samuel 17:12-30. 

U4. David slays Goliath. 

Read 1 Samuel 17:31-54. 

Repeat the story — another universal favorite that 
needs no comment. 

^5. The return and the blood brotherhood with 
Jonathan. 

Read 1 Samuel 17:55 to 18:5. 

What facts concerning the character of David 
appear in this brief passage? 

Y\ 6. The people's new liero and the jealousy of the 
king. 

Read 1 Samuel 18 : 6-16. 

What was the popular song? and what its effect 
on Saul? Compare John the Baptist's position in 
such a situation in John 3 : 26, 27. 

][ 7. The king's son-in-law and his dowry. 

Read 1 Samuel 18 : 17-30. 

Why did Saul want David for a son-in-law ? How 
does Saul treat him? Compare Samson, Judges 
14:20. Who is then fascinated by the new hero? 
and how does Saul feel about it? What is David's 
purchase price for his bride? What was Jacob's 
(Gen. 29:13-30)? 

][8. Jonathan's temporarily successful interven- 
tion in behalf of David. 

Read 1 Samuel 19 : 1-7. 

^ 9. Michal saves David from Saul. 

Read 1 Samuel 19 : 8-17. 



The Foundations of National Unity 101 

What new event provokes Saul's renewed jeal- 
ousy? and what does he seek to do? To what trick 
does Michal resort? and how does she defend her- 
self? 

^10. Saul comes under the spell of prophetic 
frenzy. 

Read 1 Samuel 19 : 18-24. 

Relate the incident. Throughout this early his- 
tory there appear, in the midst of the high ideals 
common to humanity at its higher levels, reminders 
of the primitiveness of the age and even of the 
great characters through whom Jehovah's messages 
come. How does Saul demean himself under the 
spell of prophetic frenzy? From this quaint primi- 
tive background rise the great prophetic reformers 
of the eighth century, led by Amos and Hosea. 

IJll. The ideal friendship. 

Read 1 Samuel 20. 

Relate the universally known and loved story. 

46. David, the Bandit. 

1 Samuel 21 to 30. 

^ 1. The flight of David. 

Read 1 Samuel 21 : 1-9. 

How does David explain his being unattended? 
What food and what weapon does he receive from 
Ahimelech ? 

^2. David plays madman before Achish of Gath. 

Read 1 Samuel 21 : 10-15. 

Tj 3. The bandit and his men. 

Read 1 Samuel 22 : 1, 2. 

Who constituted the party of banditti? Consid- 



102 An Outline of Old Testament History 

ev the positiou of David in the ancient kingdom. 
One might find many parallels, esi^ecially in early 
European and in modern Latin-American life; but 
the parallels must not be carried too far. 

T[4. What prophet has joined the bandit? and 
what advice does he give? 

Readl Samuel 22 : 3-5. 

^5. Relate the story of Saurs vengeance upon 
Ahimelech. 

Read 1 Samuel 22 : 6-19. 

116. What valuable new accession does the inci- 
dent give to David? 

Read 1 Samuel 22:20-23. 

As "the only surviving representative of the most 
influential priestly family in Israel'' he plays a 
large part in subsequent history. 

^7. The banditti relieve a friendly city from the 
Philistines. 

Read 1 Samuel 23 : 1-5. 

This is the kind of activity that helps a bandit to 
larger and more regular standing later. A wise 
leader, however, will not trust immediate gratitude 
to overcome the instinct of self-preservation ; so 

^ 8. The roving bandit leaves Keilah. 

Read 1 Samuel 23 : 6-14. 

Note: David and his men "went whithersoever 
they could go." 

^9. Jonathan encourages and Saul pursues Da- 
vid. 

Read 1 Samuel 23 : 15-26. 

Relate the story. 

HI 10. The troubled kingdom. 



The Foundations of National Unity 103 

Eead 1 Samuel 23:27-29. 

^ 11. A strange kind of bandit. 

Bead 1 Samuel 24 : 1-22. 

Eead also 1 Samuel 26 : 1-25. 

Eelate in detail the two narratives. What made 
David king and the founder of a permanent dynas- 
ty? Some say his winsome personality; some, his 
valor and prowess. The speech of Mattathias in 
1 Maccabees 2:57 says: "David for being merciful 
inherited the throne of a kingdom for ever and 
ever." Who is right ? 

Tl 12. The death of a great superannuate. 

Eead 1 Samuel 25 : 1. 

The age had passed beyond him. Israel mourns, 
but Samuel's w^ork was already done sometime be- 
fore; he lias not figured greatly in more recent 
events. The narrative pauses to give one verse to a 
statement of his death. 

Sketch carefully the headings of the sections and 
paragraphs of this chapter, or, better, the annota- 
tions on the margin of your Bible, to get the career 
and significance of this prophet-priest of all Israel 
and early king maker as sketched in the Old Testa- 
ment. For what ideas does he stand? 

^ 13. A bandit's tax levy. 

Eead 1 Samuel 25 : 2-42. 

Here is one of the most characteristic and inter- 
esting narratives in the Old Testament to one his- 
torically or sociologically inclined. What is Da- 
vid's demand ? This was a regular w^ay for bandits 
to live. David states grounds for his demand in 
verses 7 and 21. What are they? How does Nabal 



104 ^An Outline of Old Testament History 

receive the demand? How is Nabal regarded for 
refusing (verses 3, 17, and 25) ? What does Abi- 
gail do? and what do you think of her course? 
How does the incident end? 

U 14. Another harem. 

Eead 1 Samuel 25 :43, 44. 

Compare Abraham and Jacob. 

^ 15. Under the suzerainty of a Philistine king. 

Eead 1 Samuel 27 : 1-7. 

Kemember that verse 1 follows the second account 
of David's sparing of Saul's life. 

TJ 16. What is David's mode of life in the land of 
the Philistines? 

Read 1 Samuel 27: 8, 9. 

^17. What does David tell his suzerain? and with 
what result? 

Eead 1 Samuel 27 : 10 to 28 : 2. 

^ 18. The situation meanwhile in Israel. 

Eead 1 Samuel 28 : 3-25. 

Consider carefully the picture of the helpless, dis- 
pirited Saul turning from the oracle of Jehovah to 
the witch of Endor. Get the story. 

U 19. The Philistine distrust relieves David of his 
predicament. 

Eead 1 Samuel 29: -1-11. 

What position, respectively, do the Philistine lead- 
ers and Achish take? What is David's answer? 
What would he have done and what should he have 
done had Achish demanded his allegiance? 

^20. The Amalekite raid and David's revenge. 

Eead 1 Samuel 30 : 1-19. 

What did the Amalekites do ? What was David's 



The Foundations of National Unity 105 

first thought? How did he find the raiders? What 
was the result of his pursuit? 

T[21. How was the spoil divided? 

Bead 1 Samuel 30 : 20-25. 

Was David's action here generosity, politics, or 
sense? What was his maxim for the division of 
spoil (verse 24) ? 

Tl 22. To whom else did David send a share of the 
spoil? and why? 

Read 1 Samuel 30:26-31. 

47. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Read at a sitting the first book of Samuel. 

(2) Write a sketch of the character of Saul. 

(3) Sketch the life of Samuel and compare his 
part in the contemporary history with that of Saul. 

(4) Compare the character of Saul with that of 
David during the period of David's life so far stud- 
ied. 

(5) What sort of a comparison would you make of 
David and Jonathan? 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE KINGDOM OF DAVID 

(1 Samuel 31 to 1 Kings 2:11 and 1 Chronicles 2:3 to 

29:30) 

48. The Book of Chronicles and the Genealogies of the 
Israelitish Tribes. 

1 Chronicles 2 : 3 to 9 : 44 and Exodus 6 : 14-27. 

Tfl. The books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehe- 
miah form a history of the Hebrews written from 
a point of view somewhat diflferent from that in the 
narrative found in Genesis to 2 Kings. It reflects 
the priestly as the other reflects the prophetic ideals. 
The history before the time of David is summa- 
rized in a series of genealogical tables. The bulk 
of the narrative treats of the reigns of David and 
Solomon, after which follow, in Chronicles, the his- 
tory of Judah until the captivity and, in Ezra-Ne- 
hemiah, portions of post-exilic history. 

The genealogical tables parallel to the Genesis his- 
tory have been studied in Section 11. The genealo- 
gies of the sons of Jacob must now be noted. 

^ 2. The genealogy of Judah. 

Read 1 Chronicles 2 : 3 to 4 : 23. 

The Chronicler's chief interest is in Judah and in 
David. 

A more advanced study or a study of a single 
book or period would require a more detailed con- 
sideration of these genealogies. If further consid- 
eration is wished, consult your commentary. 
(106). 



The Kingdom of David 107 

T[3. The Simeouites. 

Read 1 Chronicles 4 : 2443. 

What does verse 27 tell of them ? Locate Judah 
and Simeon on the map. What geographical rela- 
tion did they sustain to each other? Compare the 
raids and resettlement of some of the Simeonites 
with the migration of the Danites in Judges 17 
and 18. 

1j 4. The East Jordanic tribes. 

Eead 1 Chronicles 5. 

What tribes settled on the east of the Jordan? 
Why was Reuben deprived of the birthright? and 
to whom was it given? And why is the genealogy 
not reckoned after the birthright? 

The account closes with the captivity by the As- 
syrians. The Chronicler has no further interest in 
these tribes. He is interested in Judah, the house 
of David, and the temple. The detailed account of 
the Northern and Eastern tribes is given in the pro- 
phetic history in Kings and will be studied later. 

^5. The Levites. 

Read 1 Chronicles 6. 

Note the Kohathite-Aaronic-Zadokite-high-priestly 
line, the line of David's singers, and the Levitical 
cities. 

Read also 1 Chronicles 9 : 10-34. 

TJ 6. The other tribes. 

Read 1 Chronicles 7 and 9 : 1-9. 

The Chronicler has little interest in these tribes, 
as has been seen. He returns, however, because of 
interest in Saul, to the 

^ 7. Benjamite genealogies. 



108 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Eead 1 Chronicles 8 : 1-28. 

Tl 8. The house of Saul. 

Read 1 Chronicles 8:2940 and 9:3544. 

^ 9. An Exodus genealogy. 

Eead Exodus 6 : 14-27. 

49. The Death of Saul and Accession of David as King 
of Judah. 

1 Samuel 31 : 1 to 2 Samuel 4 : 12 and 1 Chronicles 
10 : 1-14. 

^ 1. The death of Saul. 

After having referred to Section 46, paragraphs 
18 to 22, read 1 Samuel 31 : 1-13. 

How does Saul die? What do the Philistines do 
to his bodj^? What did the men of Jabesh-gilead 
do? Why especially should the men of Jabesh-gil- 
ead have done this service (1 Samuel 11) ? 

^2. The Chronicles account. 

Read 1 Chronicles 10 : 1-14. 

What is the moral judgment passed by the Chron- 
icler on SauFs death ? 

T[ 3. The news brought to David. 

Read 2 Samuel 1 : 1-16. 

How does the Amalekite expect David to receive 
his news (compare verse 10) ? But David refuses 
to condone regicide and rends his clothes at the re- 
cital of the disaster. 

Tl"4. David's dirge. 

Read 2 Samuel 1 : 17-27. 

This is one of the finest of Hebrew poems. There 
are three main points in David's grief: (1) The na- 
tional disaster^ with the triumph of the uncircum- 



The Kingdom of David 109 

cised foe from which he especially shrinks. (2) The 
loss of Israel's strong leaders. What is his esti- 
mate of their valor and achievements? (3) His 
sense of the loss of his personal friend. No more 
beautiful couplet is anywhere found than verse 26, 
though the English rendition is far from satisfac- 
tory. 

From what previous collection is the poem taken? 
Where else have this collection and a similar one 
been met? 

^ 5. David and the kingship. 

Eead 2 Samuel 2 : 1-7. 

Already David has refused to foment a revolu- 
tion against Saul^ has shown the utmost respect for 
the king as Jehovah's anointed, and has refused to 
become, either before or after Saul's death, an anti- 
administration candidate for the throne. A heredi- 
tary kingdom not having been established by prece- 
dent, David, apart from his previous selection by 
Samuel and from the alliance of the prophetic par- 
ty, might easily aspire to the throne. Compare 
Joshua as the successor of Moses and the way in 
which the Judges arose in first one quarter and 
then another, according to local conditions. The 
Benjamite chieftains being dead and the Philistines 
dominant, the Judahite bandit might not only ac- 
cept formally the leadership of his tribe, but might 
take steps toward a complete succession to Saul. 
What is David's first thought when the question of 
the kingship presents itself (verses 1-4) ? What is 
his message to the men of Jabesh-gilead ? A wise 
man appreciates loyalty, whether to friend or foe, 



110 An Outline of Old Testament History 

and would rather wiu a loyal tliau a light-hearted 
group of men. 

][6. Who was Abner? and whom does he set up as 
successor to Saul? 

Kead 2 Samuel 2 : 8-11. 

1[ 7. The defeat of Abner. 

Eead 2 Samuel 2 : 12-17. 

Some think Abner proposed simply a mimic bat- 
tle that turned through general treachery to grim 
reality; others, that he proposes a twelve-banded 
contest instead of a battle to decide the fate of the 
day. Compare the contest between Goliath and Da- 
vid. 

T[8. The death of Asahel and the cessation of the 
pursuit. 

Eead 2 Samuel 2 : 18-32. 

Relate the story of the death of Asahel. What 
proposal does Abner make? and what is Joab's an- 
swer? 

jl 9. What was the result of the civil war that en- 
sued? 

Read 2 Samuel 3 : 1. 

|[10. What occasions the break between Ishbo- 
sheth and Abner? What is Abner's threat? 

Read 2 Samuel 3 : 6-11. 

]\ 11. The agreement between Abner and David. 

Read 2 Samuel 3 : 12-21. 

What was David's demand of Abner? How much 
love for the wife of his youth and how much policy 
in attempting to inherit the succession from Saul 
w^ere in this demand? 

U 12. The death of Abner. 



The Kingdom of David IH 

Read 2 Samuel 3:22-39. 

Abnei% by having slain Asahel, had brought upon 
himself a liability to blood revenge — the duty of the 
next of kin to revenge one who had been slain. Ab- 
ner did not want to shut the door to reconciliation ; 
hence he wished to avoid the necessity of slaying 
Asahel. Later he proposed to Joab a truce and a 
cessation of pursuit. (2 Samuel 2:18-32.) Abner 
seems to think, however, that, since he had slain 
Asahel in battle when the latter was pursuing him, 
Joab would not be bound by or disposed toward 
blood revenge. The opening charge of David's la- 
ment, however, shows that he thinks Abner entirely 
too unsuspicious. May there not be here a transi- 
tion period between the earlier system of blood re- 
venge and the advancing ideals of considering the 
intent in such matters? Joab's ambition, jealousy, 
and high-handedness might easily espouse the more 
primitive view, especially when it coincided with 
his interest. 

The attitudes of Joab and David respectively pre- 
sent an interesting contrast between the tyrannical 
disposition that would found a government on force 
and the conciliatory disposition that seeks public 
favor as the surest and most permanent foundation, 
Kote especially verse 36. 

|[ 13. David opposes government by assassination. 

Read 2 Samuel 4 : 1-12. 

David's insistence on the sacredness of the king's 
person and his opposition to violent, short-cut meth- 
ods make his progress toward the rulership of the 
united kingdom more slow, perhaps; but it makes 



112 An Outline of Old Testament History 

for him a more permanent and peaceful reign and 
dynasty. 

j[ 14. David's sons born in Hebron. 

Eead 2 Samuel 3:2-5. Compare 1 Chronicles 
3 : l-4a. 

50. David King of the United Israel and Judah. 

2 Samuel 5:1 to 12 : 31, in part, and 1 Chronicles 
11:1 to 20:3. 

^ 1. David made king of Israel. 

Eead 2 Samuel 5 : 1-5 and 1 Chronicles 11 : 1-3. 

Note that the latter refers to a formal anointing. 
The Chronicler is especially interested here, as al- 
ways, in the theocratic side of the history. 

^2. The capture of Jerusalem. 

Read 2 Samuel 5 : 6-10 and 1 Chronicles 11 : 4-9. 

By v^hom was Jerusalem held until David's time? 
Why had it not been conquered before? What 
taunt did the inhabitants hurl at the Israelites? 
Who was the leader in taking and repairing the 
city, according to Chronicles? 

Locate Hebron and Jerusalem on the map, con- 
sider the passages just read, and give two reasons 
why David moved his capital to Jerusalem. 

U3. Whence did David get material and workmen 
for his palace? 

Read 2 Samuel 5 : 11, 12 and 1 Chronicles 14 : 1, 2. 

^4. David's increased harem and offspring. 

Read 2 Samuel 5 : 13-16 and 1 Chronicles 14 : 3-7. 
Compare 1 Chronicles 3 : 4?>-8. 

The variations need not concern us. Commenta- 
ries may be searched if time and inclination warrant. 



The Kingdom of David 113 

^ 5. War with Pliilistia. 

Read 2 Samuel 5 : 17-25 and 1 Chronicles 14 : 8-17. 

A king of the petty tribe of Judah and a weak 
son of Saul in the north can well be ignored by the 
Philistines, but the shrewd and valiant David as 
successor of Saul and king of the united Israelites 
is more threatening. 

What does David do before risking battle ? What 
answers does the oracle give to David- s inquiries? 
What is the result of the two engagements ? 

116. The first step in the removal of the ark to 
Jerusalem. 

Eead 2 Samuel 6 : 1-11 and 1 Chronicles 13. 

Recall the history of the ark since its capture by 
the Philistines. What were the sin and punishment 
of Uzzah ? What effect did it have on David's mind ? 
Where was the ark left ? and with what result to its 
host? 

^ 7. A place prepared for the ark and an assembly 
of Israel and of the sons of Aaron and the Levites. 

Read 1 Chronicles 15 : 1-24. 

]]■ 8. The ark removed to Jerusalem. 

Read 1 Samuel 6:12-19 and 1 Chronicles 15:25 
to 16:3. 

What did David do before the ark? What did 
Michal think of his action ? What additional aspect 
does the Chronicler note in verse 27? and how is 
this characteristic of his interests? 

^9. The ceremonial hymn. 

Eead 1 Chronicles 16 : 4-36. 

The hymn is rather doctrine and worship than 
history. Y^hat is its message ? 
8 



114 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 10. The provision for the worship. 

Eead 1 Chronicles IG: 37-43. 

If 11. What sharp words ensued between Michal 
and David? and with what result? 

Read 2 Samuel 6:20-23. 

^12. What great public work does David propose? 
and what is the prophet's offhand answer? 

Read 2 Samuel 7 : 1-3 and 1 Chronicles 17 : 1, 2. 

TJ13. For what two reasons was the offhand an- 
swer reversed ? 

Read 2 Samuel 7:4-7, 12, 13 and 1 Chronicles 
17:3-6, 11, 12. 

j[ 14. David and the divine promise. 

Read 2 Samuel 7:8-17 and 1 Chronicles 17:7-15. 

Compare the divine promise to Abraham ( Section 
7, paragraph 7) ; to Isaac (Section 8, paragraph 4) ; 
to Jacob (Section 9, paragraph 14). Just as these 
men were chosen to become the fathers of an elect 
race, so David is chosen to become the father of its 
kings and leaders. He, like they, was chosen with 
a view to the larger divine purposes. Compare also 
Moses. 

If 15. David's thanksgiving prayer. 

Read 2 Samuel 7 : 18-29 and 1 Chronicles 17 : 16-27. 

What is God's purpose as David sees it in "all 
this greatness"? 

If 16. Against what countries did David wage war? 
and with what result? 

Read 2 Samuel 8 : 1-14 and 1 Chronicles IS : 1-13. 

What other king sought an understanding with 
David in view of his successes? 

If 17. David's chief officers. 



The Kingdom of David 115 

Read 2 Samuel 8 : 15-18 and 1 Chronicles 18 : 14-17. 

Compare the more simple organization of early 
times, where Abraham is chieftain, general, priest, 
etc., all in one. Compare also the simpler organi- 
zation nnder Saul. 

^ 18. David's policy of mildness and mercy. 

Read 2 Samuel 9. 

Who was Mephibosheth? What, do you think, 
was David's motive or motives in being thus kind 
to him? Opinions differ on this question according 
to various estimates of David. 

The incident is omitted from Chronicles — "as be- 
ing a matter of private interest," says Kirkpatrick 
(Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel). 

^ 19. Defeat of Ammon and Syria. 

Read 2 Samuel 10:1 to 11:1, 12:26-31 and 1 
Chronicles 19 : 1 to 20 : 3. 

What was the occasion of the war? How did the 
Syrians come to be in the battle? What was the 
agreement between Joab and Abishai? What was 
the cause of the battle? What was the result of the 
renewed campaign after the rainy season? 

Note that David sends Joab: a more developed 
civilization means increasing specialization and di- 
vision of labor. 

Consider the horrors of ancient warfare even un- 
der a David. 

51. David's Great Sin. 

2 Samuel 11 : 2 to 12 : 25. 

^1. David's sin was great enough in the light of 
his own age : one must not think of it as done in vio- 



116 An Outline of Old Testament History 

lation of modern standards. The low social ideals of 
the age of the patriarchs and of the Judges have al- 
ready been studied. David's day had not progressed 
far beyond theirs. One might compare the early 
centuries of modern European history (read Shake- 
speare's "King John"), as well as some more re- 
cent conditions. 

David's weakness showed itself possibly in his 
marriage with Abigail and in his already large ha- 
rem. 

^2. David and Bath-sheba. 

Bead 2 Samuel 11:2-5. 

^ 3. David seeks to hide his sin. 

Eead 2 Samuel 11 : 6-11. 

But Uriah refuses to violate the soldier's sexual 
taboo. Had he done so, Uriah might have thought 
the child his own and never dreamed that David 
and Bath-sheba had wronged him. 

^ 4. David makes a second attempt to cover his 
sin. 

Eead 2 Samuel 11 : 12, 13. 

^5. One sin provokes another. 

Bead 2 Samuel 11 : 14-27. 

What a tangled web sin weaves! Murder or de- 
tection are David's only alternatives. When such al- 
ternatives thus present themselves, how frequently 
murder results ! 

For the method compare 1 Samuel 18 : 17-29. 

Tj 6. The prophetic rebuke. 

Eead 2 Samuel 12 : l-15a. 

This is one of the great passages and great inci- 
dents of Old Testament history. The prophet is a 



The Kingdom of David 117 

factor in Hebrew life. Relate the parable and give 
its application. No comment is needed, yet one 
must be careful about thinking of David's sin in 
purely modern terms. How far was the sin of Da- 
vid diflferent from the sin of xlhab in the matter of 
Naboth's vineyard, taking both in terms of ancient 
thinking? Compare the order of items in the tenth 
commandment; but compare also Section 9, para- 
graphs 11 and 12. 

H 7. The death of the child. 

Read 2 Samuel 12 : 156-23. 

tf 8. The birth of Solomon. 

Read 2 Samuel 12 : 24, 25. 

52. The Rebellion of Absalom. 

2 Samuel 13 to 20. 

^1. The taint in the blood and in the environ- 
ment. 

Read 2 Samuel 13 : 1-20. 

David was especially noble, generous, and wise in 
his relations with Saul and in his insistence on the 
sacredness of the king's person and on law and or- 
der ; hence his permanent dynasty. But his passion- 
ate nature and lack of self-control showed itself in 
his son and resulted in the later turmoil of his 
household and of his kingdom. He who conciliated 
his foes is destroyed in his own house because of 
his evil example at home. 

No Old Testament picture is more touching than 
that of the noble and desolate Tamar. 

^2. David's refusal to punish Amnon, and Absa- 
lom's revenge. 



118 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read 2 Samuel 13:21-36. 

T[3. Absalom flees to his mother's people. 

Eead 2 Samuel 13 : 37-39. 

Compare Jacob's flight. 

T]"4. Joab's enacted parable. 

Read 2 Samuel 14 : 1-17. 

For form compare the parable of Nathan. Joab 
pleads for the mitigation of the law of blood re- 
venge, which, however, he had used in its strictest 
and most primitive application when it enabled him 
to get rid of his rival, Abner. 

^ 5. The king's shrewd guess and his partial recon- 
ciliation with Absalom. 

Read 2 Samuel 14 : 18-24. 

^ 6. Absalom's beauty. 

Read 2 Samuel 14 : 25, 26. 

^7. The namesake of the wronged Tamar. 

Read 2 Samuel 14: 27. 

Absalom feels deeply the wrong done his sister. 

118. How does Absalom obtain an interview with 
Joab ? What is the result ? 

Read 2 Samuel 14:28-33. 

11 9. How does Absalom win the hearts of the peo- 
ple? 

Read 2 Samuel 15 : 1-6. 

^ 10. The rebellion. 

Read 2 Samuel 15 : 7-12. 

What is Absalom's pretext for going to Hebron? 
Why, think you, does he choose Hebron as the seat 
of his revolt? 

Some ancient versions read "four" instead of "for- 
ty" years in verse 7. 



The Kingdom of David 119 

TJ 11. The roval flight. 

Eead 2 Samuel 15 : 13-17. 

Why, think you, did David flee? 

Says Keniiedv in his commentary on Samuel 
(Century Bible) : '^Of no single day in the whole 
course of the recorded history of the Hebrews have 
we so detailed a record as Vv^e have of the day on 
which David fled before his undutiful son." 

T[ 12. The faithfulness of Ittai. 

Eead 2 Samuel 15 : 18-23. 

Compare the exile of Ittai and his men with Da- 
vid's exile and his relations to the king of Gath in 
the Philistine war with Saul. 

Eecall also that Uriah was a foreigner, a Hittite. 

iyi3. David sends the ark back to Jerusalem. 

Eead 2 Samuel 15 : 24-29. 

What is the meaning of this act? Compare the 
previous history of the ark. Does David show a 
more spiritual idea of religion in sending the ark 
back? 

^14. The pathetic picture of the broken-hearted 
and perhaps conscience-stricken king and father. 

Eead 2 Samuel 15 : 30. 

Tl 15. Hushai sent to Jerusalem. 

Eead 2 Samuel 15 : 31-37. 

Why was he sent? What do you think of the 
righteousness of this course? This is a live modern 
question in view of recent strains to which interna- 
tional law has been put. 

If 16. What report did Ziba make to David? and 
with what result? 

Eead 2 Samuel 16 : 1-4. 



120 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Do you think the report of Ziba true or false? 

^ 17. Shimei's curses. 

Eead 2 Samuel 16 : 5-14. 

Does the broken spirit David shows here throw 
any light on the question asked in paragraph 11 ? 

^ 18. Absalom enters Jerusalem and meets Hushai. 

Read 2 Samuel 16 : 15-19. 

What is Hushai's excuse for deserting David ? 

11 19. The counsel of Ahithophel. 

Eead 2 Samuel 16 : 20 to 17 : 4. 

The two counsels are to the same end. He urges 
an immediate ending of the whole object of the re- 
bellion. The taking over of the royal harem would 
be a formal assumption of authority as David's suc- 
cessor. The break with David would be complete. 
The only remaining step was to get the king out of 
the way. This accomplished^ David's followers have 
nothing else to fight for. 

j[20. What is the counsel of Hushai? and what 
reasons does he urge? 

Read 2 Samuel 17:5-13. 

Compare 17 : 1 and 11 and consider Hushai's 
shrewd appeal to Absalom's vanity. 

|[21. Which counsel prevails? What precaution 
does the shrewd Hushai nevertheless take? 

Read 2 Samuel 17 : 14-22. 

T[22. What was the end of Ahithophel? 

Read 2 Samuel 17 : 23. 

^23. Whom did Absalom make his chief general? 

Read 2 Samuel 17:24-26. 

|[24. How was David received at Mahanaim? 

Read 2 Samuel 17:27-29. 



The Kbiydom of David 121 

^25. What division was made of David's army? 
and what spirit does the king show? 

Bead 2 Samnel 18 : 1-5. 

1J26. The battle of the forest of Ephraim. 

Read 2 Samuel 18 : 6-18. 

How did xlbsalom meet his death? 

If 27. David the father overshadows David the 
king. 

Read 2 Samuel 18 : 19-33. 

More, perhaps, than any other one incident in his 
life this evidence of his great heart accounts for the 
universal affection in which David has been held. 
Sometimes one wonders whether Jesus had this in- 
cident in any way in mind when he described the 
bereft father's love for the prodigal son. How much 
was David's grief due to the consciousness of his 
own bad example and of his refusal to forgive a 
son whose vengeance upon a brother was so thor- 
oughly provoked? 

^ 28. Joab rebukes, but the people understand and 
sympathize with the father's heart. 

Read 2 Samuel 19 : 1-8. 

Yet was not Joab's counsel wise? 

^29. What negotiations does David open with 
Judah ? and what promise does he make to Amasa ? 

Read 2 Samuel 19 : 9-15. 

Compare David's efforts to win and use Abner 
with his negotiations with Amasa. 

^30. David pursues his wonted mild policy in 
even a greater degree than ever. 

Read 2 Samuel 19 : 16-30. 

Contrast his constantly mild policy with the al- 



122 An Outline of Old Testament History 

ways opposite counsel of the sons of Zeruiah. Is 
there any reason to doubt Mephibosheth's story? 

^31. What is David's offer of requital to Barzil- 
lai? and what is Barzillai's answer and request for 
his servant? 

Bead 2 Samuel 19:31-39. 

11 32. The rivalry of Judah and Israel in their re- 
ception of the king. 

Read 2 Samuel 19 : 4043. 

^33. The rebellion of Sheba, an aftermath of the 
quarrel between Israel and Judah and of the spirit 
of rebellion. 

Read 2 Samuel 20 : 1, 2. 

David's relations to Saul show how fully he re- 
alized the psychic effect of rebellion and its conta- 
gious character. Compare conditions in Mexico aft- 
er the flight of Porfirio Diaz. 

T[ 34. David at home again. 

Read 2 Samuel 20 : 3. 

^35. Amasa another victim of Joab's high-hand- 
edness and jealousy. 

Read 2 Samuel 20 : 4-lOa. 

^36. How does Joab rally the forces and take 
Sheba? 

Read 2 Samuel 20 : 106-22. 

1137. David's officers. 

Read 2 Samuel 20 : 23-26. 
53. Some Incidents of David's Career and Reign. 

2 Samuel 21 to 24 and 1 Chronicles 11 : 10 to 12 : 40 
and 20:4 to 22:1. 

Tjl. The famine and the execution of seven of 
Saul's sons at the instillation of the oracle. 



Tlie Kingdom of David 123 

EeacI 2 Samuel 21 : 1-9. 

Michal in verse 8 seems a mistake for Merab. 
Compare 1 Samuel 18 : 19. 

T[2. The mourning Kizpah and the reburial of 
Saul and Jonathan. 

Read 2 Samuel 21 : 10-14. 

^3. After Abishai has saved David's life in an 
emergency the people's demand for stable govern- 
ment removes the king from the more active charge 
of the army. 

Eead2 Samuel 21 : 15-17. 

^ 4. The slaying of the Philistine giants. 

Eead 2 Samuel 21 : 18-22 and 1 Chronicles 20 : 4-8. 

^5. Give in a few words a summary of David's 
thanksgiving song. 

Eead 2 Samuel 22. 

^ 6. The testament of David. 

Eead 2 Samuel 23 : 1-7. 

Kirkpatrick calls this the last prophetic utter- 
ance of David.^ 

Compare the parting blessings of Jacob and Mo- 
ses (Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33). 

^ 7. Some of David's heroes and their exploits. 

Eead 2 Samuel 23:8-12, 18-39 and 1 Chronicles 
ll:10-41a, 11:416 to 12:40, the last being supple- 
mentary lists not in Samuel. 

^8. Tell the story of the water from the well of 
Bethlehem and state the elements of character 
evinced by David in the incident. 

Eead 2 Samuel 23 : 13-17. 

^2 Samuel in the Cambridge Bible. 



124 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 9. David, against Joab's advice, orders a census. 

Read 2 Samuel 24 : 1-9. 

^ 10. David's repentance and his choice of punish- 
ment. 

Read 2 Samuel 24 : 10-17. 

Note the place of the prophet in the national life. 
Consider the previous influence of Gad and of Na- 
than. 

Tl 11. The purchase of a place for an altar. 

Read 2 Samuel 24 : 18-25. 

What principle of sacrifices does David an- 
nounce? 

T[ 12. The Chronicles account. 

Read 1 Chronicles 21 : 1-27. 

U13. What is the great significance of the inci- 
dent for the Chronicler? 

Read 1 Chronicles 21 : 28 to 22 : 1. 

As the altar of the temple this spot becomes one 
of the world's most famous and most sacred places. 

54. The Appointment of a Successor; the Arrangements 
Relating to the Proposed Temple, and the Organiza- 
tion of the Temple and the Kingdom. 

1 Kings 1:1 to 2:11 and 1 Chronicles 22:2 to 
29:30. 

^1. The aged king. 

Read 1 Kings 1 : 1-4. 

^2. Who was Adonijah? What steps does he take 
toward becoming David's successor? 

Read 1 Kings 1 : 5-10. 

Who were his friends and advisers? and who no- 
tably were left out of his counsels? 



The Kingdom of David 125 

^3. What was Nathan's position? and what plan 
did he propose and carry out? 

Eead 1 Kings 1 : 11-27. 

114. What was the result of Nathan's plan? 

Read 1 Kings 1 : 28-40. 

^5. What was the effect upon Adonijah's plans? 
What was Solomon's attitude toward him person- 
ally? 

Read 1 Kings 1:41-53. 

T[6. David's arrangements and instructions con- 
cerning the temple. 

Read 1 Chronicles 22 : 2-19. 

Whom does David impress for the work of build- 
ing the temple? Compare the way the Egyptians 
set the Hebrews to making brick for the public 
works. 

Whence did David get his trees? Why was Da- 
vid forbidden to build the temple? What prepara- 
tions did David make for the work? 

^ 7. The organization of the national religion. 

Read 1 Chronicles 23 to 26. 

What were the main divisions of the ofl&cers of 
religion? What was one special source of revenue 
for temple construction? This is in line of a fre- 
quent custom of primitive peoples to deposit tro- 
phies of war in temples or to regard the spoils of 
war as in some way sacred to their God. 

Does the fact that the book of 1 Chronicles gives 
five of its twenty-nine chapters to the temple plans 
and organization indicate anything concerning the 
Chronicler's chief interest? 

U 8. The military and territorial organization. 



126 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read 1 Chronicles 27 : 1-24. 

^9. The officers of the king's treasuries and his 
trusted counselors. 

Eead 1 Chronicles 27:25-34. 

Tl 10. The great general assembly. 

Read 1 Chronicles 28 : 1 to 29 : 25. 

Note : David's statement, 28 : 1-10 ; the pattern of 
the temple, 28 : 11-19 ; the charge to Solomon, 28 : 20, 
21 ; the public appeal and its result, 29 : 1-9 ; the 
thanksgiving and prayer of David, 29:10-19; the 
general worship and the public inauguration of Sol- 
omon, 29 : 20-25. 

Give in a few words a summary of the happen- 
ings at the great assembly. 

Tl 11. David's private charge to Solomon. 

Read 1 Kings 2 : 1-9. 

What is David's philosophy of royal succession 
(verse 4) ? What are the commissions that David 
gives to Solomon concerning certain individuals? 

H 12. The death of David. 

Read 1 Kings 2 : 10, 11 and 1 Chronicles 29 : 26-28. 

How long had he reigned over Judah and over the 
united kingdom, respectively? 

^13. What especial sources does the Chronicler 
mention as giving complete records of David's life 
and reign ? 

Read 1 Chronicles 29 : 29, 30. 

How far, do you think, were these treatises the 
sources of the book of Chronicles? 
55. The Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. 

The two books of Samuel were origin alh^ one. In 
the Septuagint and in the Vulgate they are grouped 



The Kingdom of David 127 

with the two books of Kings, thus making four 
books of Kings, or Kingdoms. In the English Bible, 
as in the Hebrew, they stand as First and Second 
Samuel. These books must have been so named be- 
cause Samuel is the principal figure in the early 
part of the history and not because Samuel wrote 
them, for his death is recorded in the twenty-fifth 
chapter of the first book; and when the book closes 
Saul is long since dead, and David, after a long life, 
is ready to be gathered to his fathers. Practically 
the entire history of these three leaders — Samuel, 
Saul, and David — is recorded in these two books of 
Samuel. 

Next come First and Second Kings, called in the 
Septuagint and the Vulgate the third and fourth 
books of Kings. They contain the chief record of 
the national life of the Hebrews. Hitherto it has 
been the history of the tribes; but with Samuel, 
Saul, and David a transition is made. The first elev- 
en chapters of First Kings detail Solomon's reign, 
power, wealth, and wisdom. The remaining chap- 
ters of First Kings and the first seventeen chapters 
of Second Kings recount the fortunes of the two 
kingdoms as they run side by side until at last the 
northern kingdom succumbs before Assyria. The re- 
mainder of Second Kings records the history of Ju- 
dah until she falls before Babylon. 

Within this period occurs the chief development of 
Israel's religious life. Then lived and labored all of 
her greater prophets — Elijah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, 
Micah, and, toward the close, Jeremiah. The work 
of the future was a work of conserving, amid the po- 



128 An Outline of Old Testament History 

litical disaster and the growth of philosophic doubt, 
the heritage of the past, and of building a larger 
hope upon this foundation. 

It is well known that the Sadducees and the Sa- 
maritans in the days of Jesus held to the five Mo- 
saic books alone as the canon of Scripture. Even 
with the other Jewish parties these five books — the 
Pentateuch — were set apart as ^^the law" and were 
regarded as the central and most sacred part of 
the canon. It is not so popularly known that the 
historical books from Joshua to Second Kings were 
put under the second of the three divisions of the 
Old Testament canon, the prophets. They consti- 
tute the first section of this division and are called 
the ^^Earlier Prophets.'^ 

There was, however, a third division of the Old 
Testament. The prologue to the apochryphal book 
Ecclesiasticus speaks of the great things "deliv- 
ered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by the 
others'' ; and in Luke 24 : 44 Jesus refers to the things 
"which 'are written in the law of Moses, and the 
prophets, and the psalms." This third division is 
sometimes referred to as the Psalms (because the 
Psalms stood first in order in the division) or as the 
Writings or the Hagiographa. At its close stood the 
Chronicles, regarded in the Hebrew^ Bible as a sin- 
gle book. 

The two books of Chronicles, which in our Bible 
stand next to the books of Kings, stood in the He- 
brew Bible last of all. With the books of Ezra and 
Nehemiah (formerly, like First and Second Chron- 



The Eingdoin of David 129 

icles, forming but one book), thej present (if the 
initial genealogical tables be included) a continuous 
narrative from the creation to the return of the ex- 
iles and the restoration of the fallen Judea and Je- 
rusalem, just as Judges, Samuel, and Kings together 
form a narrative from the conquest of Canaan to the 
exile. But as the latter are written chiefly from the 
prophetic standpoint, the former represent the view- 
point of that other side of Old Testament religious 
life, the priestly. The aim of Chronicles, Ezra, and 
Nehemiah, says Driver, is that "of giving a history 
of Judah with special reference to the institutions 
connected with the temple, under the monarchy, and 
after the restoration." These books show evident 
kinship to Leviticus and Ezekiel, as do Judges, Sam- 
uel, and Kings to Deuteronomy and the older proph- 
ets. 

The name "Chronicles'' is borrowed by Luther 
from Jerome. The Hebrew name of the book known 
to English Bible readers as Chronicles is Dibhre 
Hayyamim — literally "The Words of the Days/' a 
term, says Driver, used to denote an official diary. 
The first nine chapters are a series of genealogies. 
The narrative really begins in chapter ten with the 
founding of the monarchy and follows the history 
of Judah until the time of Cyrus, with very meager 
reference to the northern kingdom. "This," says 
McFadyen, in his "Messages of the Prophetic and 
Priestlj" Historians," "is the key to the book. Noth- 
ing is of real interest but Judah ; and in Judah, Je- 
rusalem ; and in Jerusalem, the temple." 
9 



130 An Outline of Old Testament History 

50. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Eead, at a single sitting for each, 2 Samuel 
and 1 Chronicles. Compare the difference in style 
and character of the two books. 

(2) Estimates of David vary greatly. The fol- 
lowing is the estimate made by Peritz in his recent 
'^Old Testament History." How correct, fair, and 
adequate do you consider it? 

That David was the greatest king that Israel ever had 
is commonly held; but opinions differ on what basis the 
estimate is to be made, some holding it on the basis of his 
personal character in general, taking the phrase, *'a man 
after my own heart," as evidence of divine approval and 
descriptive of his life, while others limit it to his political 
or national achievements. It is in the interest of highest 
ideals that we need to make the inquiry, and, fortunately, 
the facts are unmistakably clear. 

David was the founder of the national monarchy; he 
united the tribes under one ruler, freed them from subjec- 
tion to their enemies, established a capital, organized the 
state, extended its boundaries to the extremest limits, and 
made Israel a power to be reckoned with. This was the 
accomplishment of a great soldier and statesman. He sus- 
tained his reputation of being "a mighty man of valor and 
a man of war"; his statesmanship he showed by his tact 
in dealing with his friends and enemies, and in his broad 
outlook in planning for the nation. He possessed some 
very commendable personal traits: he was lovable and 
loving; Jonathan loved him, Michal and the people loved 
him, and the most valiant soldiers risked their lives to 
please him, and he was capable of returning the affection. 
He was magnanimous and a loyal friend. On the other 
hand, he was cruel in warfare. Think of the hundred 
foreskins of Philistines which he paid as the dowry for 
Michal, suggesting the scalping Indian; the way he treated 
the conquered Moabites, measuring them line by line, and 



Tlie Kingdom of David 131 

killing off two lines and keeping one line alive; and the 
Edomites, killing off all their males — cruelties, perhaps not 
quite as severe as the other nations practiced, but cruelties 
condemned by the enlightened Hebrew prophets two cen- 
turies later (see Amos 1:3-15). His lying to Achish 
may be ascribed to warfare, but his lie to the priests of 
Nob cost eighty-five of them their lives. It is evident that 
he did not make an ideal father nor husband. David was 
a religious man; he acknowledged Jehovah as his God, 
always consulted the divine oracle, and placed the ark in 
Jerusalem. But his religion was of that highly emotional 
type, which expressed itself in dervishlike dancing and 
whirling until the devotee dropped down exhausted and 
lay naked all night (1 Samuel 19:18-24); so David leaped 
and danced before the ark until he "uncovered himself," 
much to the displeasure of the modest Michal. 

(3) Compare the character of David as portrayed 
in 1 Samuel with his character as portrayed in 2 
Samuelj or his life before and after his accession 
to the throne. 

(4) Sketch the life of Joab and compare his char- 
acter with that of David. 

(5) Compare David and Saul as kings. 

(6) What differences in social and political life 
and organization do you note in the time of David 
as compared with earlier times? 



CHAPTER IX 

THE REIGN OF SOLOMON 

(1 Kings 2:12 to 11:43 and 2 Chronicles 1 to 9) 
57. The Early Years of Solomon's Reign. 

1 Kings 2 : 12 to 4 : 34 and 1 Chronicles 1 : 1-17. 

^1. What request did Adonijah make of Bath- 
sheba after David's death ? 

Read 1 Kings 2 : 12-18. 

U2. What was Solomon's answer to the request? 

Read 1 Kings 2:19-24. 

For variant views of the significance of Adonijah's 
request see the commentaries. 

T[3. What fate befell Adonijah, Abiathar, and 
Joab? 

Read 1 Kings 2 : 25-35. 

Who succeeded Joab and Abiathar, respectively? 

][4. What was Solomon's charge to Shimei? and 
what ultimately came of the situation ? 

Read 1 Kings 2 : 36-46. 

U 5. What important matrimonial alliance did Sol- 
omon make? 

Read 1 Kings 3 : 1. 

^ 6. Solomon's sacrifice and prayer. 

Read 1 Kings 3 : 2-15 and 2 Chronicles 1 : 1-13. 

Where was the sacrifice made? and why? What 
did Solomon ask as the most desirable gift from Je- 
hovah? 

U 7. The wisdom of Solomon as judge. 
(132) 



The Reign of Solomon 133 

Read 1 Kings 3 : 16-28. 

Tell the story of Solomon's judgment between the 
two harlots. Compare Daniel in the apochryphal 
book ^The History of Susanna.'' 

^8. Solomon's officers. 

Eead 1 Kings 4 : 1-19. 

^9. What was the extent of Solomon's kingdom? 
and what the character of the royal table and equi- 
pages? 

Read 1 Kings 4 : 20-28 and 1 Chronicles 1 : 14-17. 

T[ 10. Solomon's wisdom and fame. 

Read 1 Kings 4 : 29-34. 

In what directions did his wisdom show itself? 
Compare paragraph 7 above. 

58. The Building of the Temple. 

1 Kings 5 : 1 to 9 : 9 and 2 Chronicles 2 : 1 to 7 : 22. 

1[ 1. What were the terms of Solomon's agreement 
with Hiram of Tyre concerning timber for the tem- 
ple? 

Read 1 Kings 5 : 1-12. 

^2. What additions does the Chronicler make to 
the accounts of Kings ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 2 : 1 and 3-16. 

Tj 3. Solomon's impressment of laborers. 

Read 1 Kings 5 : 13-18 and 2 Chronicles 2 : 2 and 
17, 18. 

^4. The temple. 

Read 1 Kings 6 : 1-38 and 7 : 13-51. 

For a discussion of the temple see the commen- 
taries and the Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias 
and the bibliographies therein given. 



134 An Outline of Old Testament History 

][ 5. The Chronicles account. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 3 : 1 to 5 : 1. 

The spot upon which the temple is built, according 
to the Chronicler, is not only the site of the thresh- 
ing floor bought by David, but is on Mount Moriah, 
where Abraham's offering of Isaac took place. 

^ 6. The palace of Solomon. 

Read 1 Kings 7 : 1-12. 

How long, respectively, docs Solomon take in the 
building of his palace and of the temple (6:38 and 
7:1)? What does this indicate as to Solomon's 
character? It is even claimed that Solomon built 
the temple as a private chapel for himself. What 
does the perspective of history say of the relative im- 
portance of the two buildings? 

In any case the result of his expenditures was a 
heavy burden of taxation, from which perhaps his 
own tribe, Judah, was exempt. Even during his 
reign there was a rebellion led by Jeroboam ; and at 
his death, as will appear later, when his son and 
successor, Eehoboam, refused to relieve the burden 
of taxation, Jeroboam renewed his insurrection and 
succeeded in establishing a second kingdom com- 
posed of the northern tribes. 

Tl 7. The installation of the ark in the temple. 

Read 1 Kings 8 : 1-11 and 2 Chronicles 5 : 2-14. 

What did the ark contain? What characteristic 
of Jehovah is made the prominent note in the cere- 
mony (2 Chronicles 5:13)? 

^ 8. What does Solomon say in his address ? 

Read 1 Kings 8 : 12-21 and 2 Chronicles 6 : 1-11. 



The Reign of Solomon 135 

1|9. What is the burden of Solomon's dedicatory 
prayer? 

Read 1 Kings 8 : 22-53 and 2 Chronicles 6 : 12-42. 

Compare 1 Kings 8:51-53 and 2 Chronicles 6:41, 
42 as illustrative of the character of Kings and 
Chronicles, respectively. 

^ 10. The blessing and the sacrifices. 

Bead 1 Kings 8 : 54-06 and 2 Chronicles 7 : 1-10. 

What token of the Divine Presence omitted by 
Kings does Chronicles mention ? 

^11. What is the divine promise and warning to 
Solomon ? 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 1-9 and 2 Chronicles 7 : 11-22. 

59. Other Incidents of Solomon's Reign. 

1 Kings 9:10 to 11:43 and 2 Chronicles 8:1 to 
9:31. 

T[ 1. Solomon sells twenty cities to Hiram of Tyre. 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 10-14. 

What was the price Hiram paid? 

^2. Solomon's levies of men. 

Read 1 Kings 9:15 and 20-23 and 2 Chronicles 
8:7-10. 

T[ 3. Solomon builds cities and fortifications. 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 17-19 and 2 Chronicles 8 : 1-6. 

U 4. Solomon and Pharaoh's daughter. 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 16 and 24 and 2 Chronicles 8 : 11. 

T[ 5. Solomon's custom as to offerings. 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 25 and 2 Chronicles 8 : 12-16. 

II 6. The traffic in the gold of Ophir. 

Read 1 Kings 9 : 26-28 and 10 : 11, 12 and 2 Chron- 
icles 8 : 17, 18 and 9 : 10, 11. 



136 An Outline of Old Testament History 

T[7. Tell the story of the visit of the Queen of 
Sheba. 

Eead 1 Kings 10:1-10 and 13 and 2 Chronicles 
9 : 1-9 and 12. 

11 8. Solomon's magnificence. 

Eead 1 Kings 10 : 14-29 and 2 Chronicles 1 : 14-17 
and 9 : 13-28. 

Tl 9. Solomon's foreign wives. 

Eead 1 Kings 11 : 1-13. 

The legacy of the weakness of David does not stop 
with the affair of Amnon and Tamar and the conse- 
quent rebellion of Absalom. The taint in the blood 
shows here too. Solomon is the son of Bath-sheba 
and of David, whose relationship with women shows 
similar weakness to his own. 

What was the religious significance of foreign 
matrimonial alliances? What was the punishment 
in store? 

Tl 10. David's Edomite wars bring an adversary to 
Solomon after many years. 

Eead 1 Kings 11 : 14-22. 

][11. Another enemy. 

Eead 1 Kings 11:23-25. 

In what city did the new enemy settle? Keep this 
in mind : this city becomes of importance to Israel's 
future. 

11 12. Signs of revolt. 

Eead 1 Kings 11:26-40. 

Who instigates Jeroboam's revolt ? and what is his 
vivid method of presenting his message? Compare 
the place of previous prophets — Samuel, Nathan, 
Gad — in the history. Keep this in mind during later 



The Reign of Solomon 137 

studies. Compare also, for method, Saul's call to 
arms and the Levite's plea to his fellow Israelites 
for help (Judges 19). 

^13. What sources of the history of Solomon are 
mentioned ? 

Read 1 Kings 11 : 41 and 2 Chronicles 9 : 29. 

]y 14. The death, burial, and length of reign of Sol- 
omon. 

Read 1 Kings 11 : 41, 43 and 2 Chronicles 9 : 30, 31. 

60. Exercise and Review. 

(1) What is your estimate of Solomon? Look 
over the textbook headings and through the mark- 
ings in your Bible for making your estimate. 

(2) Compare Solomon and David. 

(3) Compare your estimate with the following one 
taken from Hastings's ^^Greater Men and Women of 
the Bible"! : 

From a merely national and secular point of view, 
Solomon was unquestionably the greatest king of Israel, 
the only one who takes his rank with the magnificent 
potentates of the ancient East. The impression he made 
on his contemporaries is seen clearly enough in the 
Biblical records, scanty though they are; and yet there 
is no vivid personal portrait of the man, like that which 
we possess of his father. Solomon appears as a splendid 
and stately figure, almost impersonal in his grandeur, 
and wrapped in the golden haze of romance. That state- 
ly and melancholy figure is, in detail, little more than a 
mighty shadow. 

^Vol. III., pages 289-291. 



138 All Outline of Old Testament History 

Solomon's life, taken as a whole, did not afford to 
posterity a picture of such pure delight as his father's. 
His reign was a period of stationary or declining mili- 
tary glory, and it was marred, Indeed, by more than one 
stain of national humiliation. . . . 

Solomon's reign has sometimes been called the Augus- 
tan age of the Jewish nation. . . . 

On the whole, however, his policy, although not un- 
influenced by worthy and pious aspirations, must be pro- 
nounced essentially selfish. The chief motives of it were 
the love of pleasure and power, of wealth and splendor 
and fame; its main object was to promote his own in- 
terests, to enrich and glorify himself, and to strengthen 
and magnify the Davidic dynasty. To obtain his ends, 
he required to have recourse not only to measures ob- 
noxious to chiefs of tribes, elders of cities, and holders 
of landed property, but also to such as were most op- 
pressive to the poorer classes. Solomon was responsi- 
ble for the disruption of the united kingdom of Israel 
and Judah, and for the consequences of it. That disrup- 
tion, which led to the loss of the independence of both, 
was the natural result of the policy on which he acted 
throughout a forty years' reign. 

(4) Pause and get a survey of the entire history as 
presented in the Old Testament up to this point and 
of its trend: (a) Memorize the chapter headings of 
the entire textbook as given in the table of con- 
tents. This will give a framework into which the 
various facts may be fitted. (6) So far there have 
been sixty sections. Some of these have contained 
reviews, some digressions on the character of the 
various books and the like. The headings of the oth- 
er sections have been statements of turning points 
or chief events in the history. Write out on a fly- 
leaf of your Bible or of your textbook and memorize 



The Reign of Solomon 139 

a scheme fitting these section headings into the chap- 
ter headings, thus : 

Chapter I. 

The Origin of the World and the Early History of Mankind. 

1. God and the World. 

2. Man and His World. 

3. The Beginning of Sin in the World. 

4. The Growth of Sin in the Primitive World. 

5. Redemption by the Elimination of the Unfit: The 
Flood. 

6. After the Flood: Sin Reappears. 

(c) See how much of the history you can put upon 
the skeleton you have arranged for each chapter. 



CHAPTER X 

THE EARLY YEARS OF THE TWO KINGDOMS 

(1 Kings 12:1 to 16:14 and 2 Chronicles 10:1 to 16:14) 

61. The Division of the Kingdom and the Reigns of Jero- 
boam and Rehoboam. 

1 Kings 12 to 14 and 2 Chronicles 10 to 12. 

][ 1. The revolt of Jeroboam. 

Read 1 Kings 12 : 1-20 and 2 Chronicles 10 : 1-19. 

What request did the people make? How does 
this reflect upon the administration of Solomon? 
What advice, respectively, do the young and the old 
counselors give Rehoboam? Which advice does he 
take ? and with what result ? Who was made king of 
Israel ? What had been his previous history ? 

^2. Who stops Rehoboam from an effort to con- 
quer the revolting tribes? and on what ground? 

Read 1 Kings 12 : 21-24 and 2 Chronicles 11 : 1-4. 

What other tribe (in whole or in part) joined 
Rehoboam and Judah? 

Tl"3. Jeroboam's sanctuaries. 

Read 1 Kings 12 : 25-33. 

The temple of Solomon had proved seemingly a 
strong agent in the unification of the kingdom. Jer- 
oboam^ in order to offset it, establishes places of wor- 
ship nearer to the people. To build a rival temple 
would have required just the sort of oppression that 
occasioned the recent revolt. 

It must be remembered that Jeroboam does not 
(140) 



The Early Years of the Two Kingdoms 141 

turn to other gods, but resorts to image worship in 
the name of Jehovah. 

1[4. What message did a man of God from Judah 
bring to Jeroboam and the altar at Bethel ? and how 
was he received? 

Eead 1 Kings 13 : 1-10 and 33, 34. 

^5. What was the fate of the man of God who 
came from Judah ? 

Read 1 Kings 13 : 11-32. 

What is the moral of the narrative? 

T[6. Tell the story of Jeroboam's sick child and 
the prophecy of xlhijah. 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 1-18. 

^ 7. How long did Jeroboam reign ? and where was 
the record of his life written ? 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 19, 20. 

U 8. Rehoboam builds fortifications. 

Read 2 Chronicles 11 : 5-12. 

TJ 9. Why did the Levites leave Jeroboam and join 
themselves to Rehoboam? 

Read 2 Chronicles 11 : 13-17. 

T[ 10. Rehoboam's wives and children. 

Read 2 Chronicles 11 : 18-23. 

TJll. Were Judah and Rehoboam loyal to Jeho- 
vah? 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 22-24 and 2 Chronicles 12 : 1. 

^ 12. What invasion came upon them as a punish- 
ment for Judah's sin? 

Read 1 Kings 14:25-28 and 2 Chronicles 12:2 
to 13a. 

11"13. How long did Rehoboam reign? In what 
books are his deeds recorded ? 



142 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 21 and 29 and 2 Chronicles 
12 : 13?)-15a. 

^14. What was the relation existing between Ju- 
dah and Israel during Rehoboam's lifetime? 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 30 and 2 Chronicles 12 : 156. 

T[ 15. Rehoboam's death and burial. 

Read 1 Kings 14 : 31 and 2 Chronicles 12 : 16. 

62. The Reigns of Abijam and Asa in Judah and the Par- 
allel History of Israel. 

1 Kings 15 : 1-24 and 2 Chronicles 13 : 1 to 16 : 14. 

^1. Who was Abijam? What was his character? 
and how long did he reign? 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 1-6 and 2 Chronicles 13 : 1, 2a. 

Note the variant spelling in Chronicles. 

^ 2. Where are his deeds recorded ? 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 7a and 2 Chronicles 13 : 22. 

U 3. War between Jeroboam and Abijam. 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 76 and 2 Chronicles 13 : 26-20. 

What claim did Abijam make in his speech to 
Jeroboam? What was Jeroboam's strategy? and 
what was the result of the battle? 

^4. Abijam's harem. 

Read 2 Chronicles 13 : 21. 

U 5. Abijam's death, burial, and successor. 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 8 and 2 Chronicles 14 : la. 

^ 6. The summary of Asa's reign given by the au- 
thor of Kings. 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 9-24. 

T[7. What was Asa's character? and what religious 
reforms did he efifect? 

Read 2 Chronicles 14 : 1-5. 



The Early Years of the Two Kingdoms 143 

TJS. What policy of military "preparedness" did 
he institute? 

Read 2 Chronicles 14 : 6-8. 

^ 9. The invasion from Ethiopia. 

Read 2 Chronicles 14 : 9-15. 

What was the result of the invasion? What is 
the character of Asa as it appears in these last two 
paragraphs of our study? 

^10. Who met the victorious Asa? and what was 
his message? 

Read 2 Chronicles 15 : 1-7. 

^11. What was the result of the message? 

Read 2 Chronicles 15 : 8-15. 

^12. What did Asa do to the queen mother? and 
why? 

Read 2 Chronicles 15:16. 

^ 13. What was the one failure of his reign in the 
eyes of the Old Testament historians ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 15 : 17. Compare 1 Kings 
15:14. 

Tj 14. What provision did he make for the temple ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 15 : 18. 

^ 15. The long reign of peace. 

Read 2 Chronicles 15 : 19. 

The narratives in Kings and Chronicles of the 
post-Solomonic history are so much in the nature of 
summaries that frequently succeeding verses treat of 
totally dififerent subjects, and it is necessary some- 
times to note them a verse at a time. 

1T16. Nadab. 

Read 1 Kings 15 : 25-31. 

Whom did Nadab succeed? What was his char- 



144 All Outlme of Old Testament History 

acter? Who conspired against him? and what 
prophecy was fulfilled in the revolution ? 

^ 17. Baasha. 

Eead 1 Kings 15 : 33, 34 and 16 : 1-4 and 7. 

What message and through what prophet did Je- 
hovah send to Baasha ? What was Baasha's charac- 
ter? 

lyiS. What war did Asa wage? Whom did he call 
to his aid? and with what result? 

Bead 1 Kings 15 : 32, 2 Chronicles 16 : 1-6. 

T[ 19. The prophetic rebuke. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 16 : 7-10. 

What prophet came to rebuke Asa? and with what 
message? How did Asa receive the prophet's re- 
buke? and where else does the spirit he showed to- 
ward the prophet vent itself? 

^20. The sickness, death, and burial of Asa. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 16 : 12-14. 

11 21. The death and burial of Baasha. 

Eead 1 Kings 16 : 6. 

^22. The sources of information concerning Asa 
and Baasha. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 16 : 11 and 1 Kings 16 : 5. 

If 23. Elah. 

Eead 1 Kings 16 : 8-14. 

Who succeeded Baasha? and what was his char- 
acter? Who conspired against him? and with what 
result ? 

63. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Eead at a single sitting the first sixteen chap- 
ters of 1 Kings. 



The Early Years of the Two Kingdoms 145 

(2) Eead at a sitting 2 Chronicles 1 to 16 and 
compare with the corresponding passages of Kings. 

(3) Name the kings and dynasties of Israel and 
Judah up to this point of our study. 

(4) What is your estimate of Jeroboam? of Asa? 

(5) Get before yourself a clear picture of the his- 
tory from the close of David's reign to the beginning 
of the age of Elijah, into which we are to enter next. 

10 



CHAPTER XI 

THE AGE OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA IN THE NORTHERN 
KINGDOM 

(1 Kings 16:15 to 2 Kings 14:16, In Part) 

64. The Rise of the House of Omri. 

1 Kings 16 : 15-34. 

^1. Who led a counter-revolution against Zimri? 
and with what result? 

Read 1 Kings 16 : 15-20. 

If 2. What civil war followed? and what was the 
outcome? 

Read 1 Kings 16 : 21-23. 

TJS. What was the religious character of Omri? 

Read 1 Kings 16: 25, 26. 

T[ 4. Did he show ability as a ruler ? 

Read 1 Kings 16:27. 

The Assyrian inscriptions designate Israel as the 
land of Omri : 

The palace of Adad-Nirari, the great king, the pow- 
erful king, king of the world, king of Assyria, the king 
over whom from his boyhood Ashur, king of the Igigi, 
had v/atched, . . . who conquered from the banks of 
the Euphrates, the Hittite country, Amurru in its entire- 
ty. Tyre, Sidon the land of Omri, Edom, Palastu (Philis- 
tia), even to the coast of the great sea of the west, had 
cast themselves at my feet. I laid tribute and taxes upon 
them.^ 

^Inscription from Calakh (Nimrud), Mercer, "Extra 
Biblical Sources for Hebrew and Jewish History," pages 
33, 34. 

(146): 



The Age of Elijah and ElWm 147 

The Moabite Stoue gives this bit of history con- 
cerning Omri: 

Omri, king of Israel, — lie afflicted Moab many days, 
because Kemosh was angry with his land. And his son 
succeeded him, and he also said, I will oppress Moab. 
In my days he said (thus). But I saw my desire upon 
him and upon his house, and Israel perished utterly for- 
ever. Now Omri took possession of the land of Medeba, 
and (Israel) dwelt in it, his days and half his sons* days, 
forty years; but Kemosh restored it in my days.^ 

Tj 5. Omri's new capital. 
Read 1 Kings 16 : 24. 

The little which the Bible tells us regarding Omri 
(889-877) allows us to conjecture that he was a prudent 
and powerful ruler. That he had a right perception of 
what was needful for his kingdom is unmistakably evi- 
dent from his choice of a new capital in place of Tirzah, 
which owed more to the pleasantness of its situation 
than to any natural strength of position. He transfers 
his residence to Samaria (Shomron). The place of his 
choice cannot have been inferior to Tirzah in natural at- 
tractiveness. Isaiah calls it "The proud crown of Ephra- 
Im on the head of a rich valley." That it possessed the 
additional advantage of special strength is evident, both 
from its situation and its history. Samaria lay on a 
conical hill rising more than one hundred meters above 
a broad, deep valley. It was, accordingly, a place which 
could be easily strengthened and made into an almost 
impregnable fortress when we consider the conditions 
of warfare in ancient times. As a matter of fact, it suc- 
cessfully came through more than one siege conducted 
by hostile forces superior in numbers. And when, at a 
later date, the Assyrians conquered Samaria, the posses- 

^Mercer, "Extra Biblical Sources for Hebrew and Jew- 
ish History," page 148. 



148 A7i Outline of Old Testament History 

sion of the town cost these masters of the art of war and 
besieging the labor of a three years' slege.^ 

^ 6. Who succeeded Omri ? and wliat was his char- 
acter? 

Read 1 Kings 16 : 28-33. 

Who was his wife ? What attitude did he take re- 
ligiously ? 

1J7. The building of Jericho and the curse of 
Joshua (6:26). 

Read 1 Kings 16 : 34. 

65. Elijah the Prophet and His Times. 

1 Kings 17 : 1 to 2 Kings 2 : 12, in part. 

TJ 1. The weird prophet of Tishbe and the king. 

Read 1 Kings 17 : 1-7. 

What is Elijah's prophecy? Where does he go? 
and how is he miraculously fed ? "The first prophet 
of Israel on a grand scale was Elijah, one of the 
most titanic personages in all the Old Testament."* 
Just as the child Samuel and Manoah's ofifering have 
been interpreted by Reynolds and Rembrandt, re- 
spectively, on canvas, so perhaps the best interpre- 
tation of Elijah is in Mendelssohn's music, the ora- 
torio "Elijah." 

^2. Tell the story of Elijah and the widow of 
Zarephath. 

Read 1 Kings 17 : 8-24. 

What is the effect upon the woman of the two 
miracles? Compare the conversion of Ruth to Is- 
rael's God as related in the book of Ruth. 

^Klttel, "History of the Hebrews/' Vol. II., page 260. 
*Cornill, "The Prophets of Israel,'* page 29. 



The Age of Elijah and Elisha 149 

What use of this incident is made by Jesus (Luke 
4:24-26) ? What testimony does it give concerning 
the preexilic relations of Hebrews and Gentiles? 

TJ3. Elijah goes to meet Ahab. 

Read 1 Kings 18 : 1-15. 

To what extremity had the royal household come? 
and what was the plan of Ahab and Obadiah to meet 
the emergency? What conversation ensued between 
Obadiah and Elijah? Note the dignity of the proph- 
et, who sends his message to the king and awaits 
the king's coming. 

T[ 4. The troubler of Israel. 

Read 1 Kings 18 : 16-18. 

What is Ahab's charge? and how does the proph- 
et answer him? Which is right? 

This is one of the great incidents in Hebrew his- 
tory, though only a private conversation. A king 
meets a royal man — and kings are afraid of men. 

^5. What was Elijah's challenge? 

Read 1 Kings 18: 19-24. 

Moses impresses this thought upon the children of 
Israel : "Jehovah is your God, and you must be loyal 
to him. Other nations may worship their own, but 
you owe them nothing; Jehovah is your God. Him 
have ye chosen to serve, and he it is who led you up 
from the house of bondage to the land of promise. 
Be loyal to him." (Compare Exodus 20 : 1-3.) 

Then comes Elijah with his message. Baal had 
been striving with Jehovah for mastery, and under 
the leadership of Ahab and Jezebel the injunction 
of Moses was breaking down. It was a time of much 
questioning. "If we can win the favor of two gods,-' 



150 All Outline of Old Testament History 

thought the Israelites, "shall we not have more 
chances for prosperity than if we have only one on 
our side?'' "But how can that be?" cries Elijah. 
"One or the other is God, and you but lose the fa- 
vor of the God by fawning after another god. Then 
judge for yourselves. If Jehovah be God, follow 
him; but if Baal, then follow him." (1 Kings 
18:21.) Perhaps at few times has the world passed 
a more serious crisis in the cause of spiritual reli- 
gion; and Elijah, almost single-handed, wins the 
fight. 

^ 6. Describe the scene on Mount Carmel. 

Bead 1 Kings 18 : 25-40. 

What was the result upon the people of the test? 
What order does Elijah give? What do you think 
of it in the light of modern standards? 

^ 7. The end of the drought. 

Bead 1 Kings 18 : 41-46. 

From this passage comes the very common refer- 
ence to "a cloud the size of a man's hand." It is 
surprising how many everyday proverbs and expres- 
sions come from the Bible. 

Y\ 8. The discouraged prophet at the mount of God. 

Bead 1 Kings 19 : 1-14. 

This is a passage to be meditated upon rather 
than discussed. 

The psychological reaction following on the disap- 
pointment of his grand ambition, his temporary loss of 
faith in his own mission, his craving for some nearer 
contact with the historic God of Israel, his sudden per- 
ception of how little a man can accomplish, and his con- 
sequent weariness of life — all these are portrayed with 
marvelous insight and delicacy and invest the character of 



The Age of Elijah and Elisha 151 

Elijah with a singular naturalness and charm. ... On 
the whole, the narrative gives the impression that this 
(Horeb) was the goal of Elijah's pilgrimage from the 
first, though his strength failed him on the way (see 
verse 7). ... On either view his impulse was to get back 
to the historic origins of the national religion, and re- 
new his faith by personal contact with the God he 
served. . . . The significance of the theophany lies rather 
in its effort to express through the least sensuous of 
material symbols the spirituality of Yahweh.^ As com- 
pared with older representations, in w^hich thunderstorm 
and earthquake appear as adequate vehicles of the Divine 
Presence, this certainly indicates an advance in the con- 
ception of Yahweh's nature.^ 

119. What is the message of Jehovah to Elijah? 
Eead 1 Kings 19 : 15-18. 

Says Henry Preserved Smith : 

The weapons of this warfare were not exclusively spirit- 
ual. The separation of Church and State is a modern and 
Occidental idea. In an Oriental society, the religious propa- 
ganda could not be separated from political machinations. 
We must, therefore, think of the prophetic party as polit- 
ical in their method and aims. This is plainly the view of 
our documents, for at Horeb, where Elijah has fled for in- 
timate communion with Yahweh, he receives the com- 
mand to do — what? To anoint Jehu king over Israel, 
and Hazael king over Damascus, that is, to foment rebel- 
lion in both the kingdoms concerned."^ 

^When the Hebrew name for God became in later 
Judaism too sacred to utter, the rabbis pronounced the 
consonants of that name with the vowels of the Hebrew 
word for Lord, Adonai, which combination is rendered 
in English "Jehovah.** The modern reconstruction of 
the ancient name is usually written **Yahweh." 

«Kings in the New Century Bible, pp. 236, 238, 240. 

'"Old Testament History," pp. 192, 193. 



152 An Outline of Old Testament History 

How many faithful ones did Jehovah have left 
while Elijah was thinking himself alone? 

^10. Elijah casts his mantle npon Elisha, who, 
after a farewell feast, becomes his follower. 

Read 1 Kings 19 : 19-21. 

^ 11. War with Syria. 

Eead 1 Kings 20 : 1-22. 

What seems to have been the previous relation- 
ship between Ahab and Ben-hadad? and what is the 
occasion of the war? What is Ahab's terse ulti- 
matum? What is the result of the battle? What 
part does a prophet of Jehovah play? (Verses 13, 
14, and 22.) 

If 12. The battle of Aphek. 

Read 1 Kings 20 : 23-30. 

What explanation of the recent Syrian defeat do 
Syrian religionists give? What is the result of the 
succeeding battle? 

^13. What reputation had the Israelitish kings 
made for themselves? What treaty follows the bat- 
tle? 

Read 1 Kings 20: 31-34. 

iyi4. Relate the enacted parable of a certain one 
of the sons of the prophets and state its application. 

Read 1 Kings 20 : 35-43. 

What do you think of the policies, respectively, of 
the king and of the prophet ? 

^ 15. A typical case of Oriental tyranny. 

Read 1 Kings 21 : 1-16. 

What was Ahab's proposition to Naboth? and 
what was Naboth's answer? What did Jezebel do? 

^16. What is Elijah's message to iVhab? 



The Age of Elijah mid Elisha 153 

Eead 1 Kings 21 : 17-19. 

The case of tyranny was typical, but there was an 
unusual champion of righteousness at hand. The 
great prophets are as really preachers of social 
righteousness and mercy as of religion. 

T[17. What is Elijah's prediction concerning 
Ahab's future? 

Eead 1 Kings 21 : 20-29. 

What modification is made in view of Ahab's re- 
pentance? 

U 18. A new war with Syria. 

Eead 1 Kings 22 : 1-4. 

What was the occasion of the war? Compare 
20:34. Who was confederate with Ahab at the 
time? 

T[ 19. What was the assurance of the four hundred 
prophets? and w^hat the message of Micaiah ben-Im- 
lah? What is the worst misfortune that can befall 
a king or a people? Compare Micaiah's vision and 
Amos 8 : 11. 

Eead 1 Kings 22 : 5-28. 

If 20. What ruse did Ahab use to save himself at 
the expense of his ally ? 

Eead 1 Kings 22 : 29-33. 

Compare David's putting of Uriah into a place of 
danger. 

T[21. The death of Ahab. 

Eead 1 Kings 22 : 34-40. 

^22. Who was Ahab's successor? and what was 
his character? 

Eead 1 Kings 22: 51-53. 



154 An Outline of Old Testmnent History 

^23. The death of a strong ruler is the signal for 
revolt in a dependency. 

Read 2 Kings 1 : 1. 

1j24. To the oracle of what god does Ahaziah on 
falling sick send? and what does Elijah do? 

Twead 2 Kings 1:2-8. 

^25. Describe the failure of Ahaziah's efforts to 
arrest Elijah. 

Read 2 Kings 1 : 9-14. 

Compare Luke 9 : 51-55. 

^26. The death of Ahaziah following Elijah's re- 
newed prophecy. 

Read 2 Kings 1 : 15-18. 

^27. Elijah's translation. 

Read 2 Kings 2 : 1-12. 

Note : The appearance of the sons of the prophets ; 
Elisha's faithfulness (verse 4) ; the parting of the 
waters of Jordan; Elisha's request for an eldest 
son's double share of his master's spirit; Elijah's 
translation and Elisha's ecstasy. 

66. Elisha. 

2 Kings 2 : 13 to 14 : 16, in part. 

^ 1. The spirit of Elijah upon Elisha. 

Read 2 Kings 2 : 13-22. 

What is the convincing evidence to the sons of 
the prophets that the spirit of Elijah is upon Eli- 
sha ? How does Elisha heal the waters of Jericho ? 

][2. Elisha and the mocking children. 

Read 2 Kings 2: 23-25. 

Compare Section 65, paragraph 25, and the New 
Testament reference there given. 



The Age of Elijah and Elisha 155 

^3. Who succeeds Ahaziah as king of Israel? and 
what was his character? 

Read 2 Kings 1 : 17 and 3 : 1-3. 

^ 4. War on Moab. 

Eead 2 Kings 3 : 4-10. 

What was the occasion for the war? Who were 
Israel's allies ? What difficulty did the united army 
encounter? 

Tl 5. The kings and the prophet. 

Read 2 Kings 3 : 11-20. 

For whose sake did Elisha agree to a consulta- 
tion? and what were his advice and prediction? 

^6. What mistake did the Moabites make? and 
with what result? 

Read 2 Kings 3: 21-26. 

T[7. What human sacrifice did Mesha make? 

Read 2 Kings 3 : 27a. 

^8. What was the ultimate result of the cam- 
paign ? 

Read 2 Kings 3 : 276. 

TJ9. Elisha saves a widow's two sons from being 
sold into slavery for debt. 

Read 2 Kings 4 : 1-7. 

Relate the incident. 

^10. Tell the beautiful story of the Shunammite 
woman and her son. 

Read 2 Kings 4 : 8-37. 

Consider : The prophet's chamber ; the craving for 
motherhood and for offspring ; the death of the child 
and the appeal to the man of God; the prophet's 
staff and the prophet's presence ; the restored child. 



156 An OutUne of Old Testament History 

^11. What two miracles does Elisha perform for 
the sons of the prophets? 

Bead 2 Kings 4 : 38-44. 

T[ 12. Naaman, the Syrian general. 

Eead 2 Kings 5 : 1-19. 

Eelate the story — another general favorite. The 
most significant aspect of the incident is, however, 
usually missed. What use does Jesus make of it in 
Luke 4:27? 

Compare Section 65, paragraph 2, and its New 
Testament reference. Is it not better to rename the 
passage, then, "The Conversion of a Syrian Gener- 
aP' ? Israel's religion is for the world. 

^13. What was Gehazi's ruse? and what the re- 
sult? 

Read 2 Kings 5 : 20-27. 

1114. The new home for the Elisha group of the 
sons of the prophets. 

Eead 2 Kings 6 : 1-7. 

What miracle did Elisha perform during the con- 
struction of the new home? 

U 15. Elisha and the Syrian armies 

Eead 2 Kings 6 : 8-23. 

Note especially verses 16 and 22. 

^ 16. The siege of Samaria. 

Eead 2 Kings 6:24 to 7: 2. 

What threat upon Elisha does the king make? and 
what is Elisha's prediction in answer? 

^17. The plight of the lepers and the deserted 
camp. 

Eead 2 Kings 7:3-15. 

What obligation does the possession of good for- 



The Age of Elijah and Elisha 157 

tune and good news entail ? This is a great but lit- 
tle used passage enforcing social and missionary ob- 
ligation. What stratagem does the king suspect? 
and what is the result of the investigation ? 

^ IS. The fulfillment of the prophet's prediction. 

Eead 2 Kings 7 : 16-20. 

^19. What was the later history of the Shunam- 
mite woman ? 

Eead 2 Kings 8 : 1-6. 

Consider again the frequency of famine in the an- 
cient world. Compare the patriarchal age. 

^ 20. What prediction did Elisha make to Hazael ? 

Eead 2 Kings 8: 7-15. 

Compare the Authorized and Eevised Versions on 
verse 13. 

1[21. The prophet foments a revolution. 

Eead 2 Kings 9 : 1-10. 

Compare Ahijah, 1 Kings 11 : 26-40, and Nathan, 
1 Kings 1. 

^22. Jehu, the furious driver, revolts and estab- 
lishes himself as king. 

Eead 2 Kings 9 : 11-28. 

Eelate the incident. 

If 23. The death of Jezebel, fulfilling Elijah's pre- 
diction. 

Eead 2 Kings 9 : 30-37. 

AVhat is the meaning of her greeting in verse 31? 
Compare 1 Kings 16 : 15-20. 

H 24. The horrors of ancient revolution. 

Eead 2 Kings 10 : l-12a. 

The revolutionist in the ancient world naturally 
felt that the chief obstacle to the peace of his reign 



158 An Outline of Old Testament History 

and the permanence of his dynasty was the descend- 
ants of the king he replaced. Compare ^^pretenders'' 
to the throne in modern kingdoms. The frequent 
policy is to put such pretenders out of the way. Da- 
vid's patience and refusal to seek a throne by revo- 
lution proved a more excellent way to a permanent 
dynasty. Israel found that even a righteous revo- 
lution sets a dangerous precedent. 

^25. Massacre in the air — the murder of the Ju- 
dean princes. 

Bead 2 Kings 10 : 126-14, 

^26. Jehonadab the Rechabite supports Jehu. 

Read 2 Kings 10 : 15, 16. 

^ 27. The remnant of Ahab destroyed. 

Read 2 Kings 10 : 17. 

^28. What trap did Jehu lay for the Baal wor- 
shipers? and with what result? 

Read 2 Kings 10 : 18-28. 

^ 29. Syria vexes Israel. 

Read 2 Kings 10:32, 33. 

11 30. The character and work of Jehu. 

Read 2 Kings 10 : 29-31 and 34-36. 

How long did he reign ? 

1[31. Who was the next king of Israel? What 
was his character? and what the course of history 
during his reign ? 

Read 2 Kings 13 : 1-9. 

^ 32. Who was the next king of Israel? and what 
was his character? 

Read 2 Kings 13 : 10-13. 

1133. By what enacted parable did Elisha test the 
character of Joash? 



The Age of Elijah and Elisha 159 

Read 2 Kings 13 : 14-19. 

What was the king's feeling toward Elisha (verse 
14)? 

][34. The death and burial of Elisha and his post- 
mortem miracle. 

Read 2 Kings 13 : 20, 21. 

^35. What wars did Joash wage? and with what 
result? 

Read 2 Kings 13 : 12 and 14 : 8-16 and 13 : 22-25. 

What terse messages were exchanged between the 
kings of Israel and Judah prior to the war? 

67, Exercise and Review. 

(1) Read at a single sitting 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 
13:25. 

(2) Write a sketch of and compare the characters 
and careers of Elijah and Elisha. What is the mean- 
ing of the phrase "a double portion of thy spirit"? 
The place of these prophets in the history of religion 
is a subject for treatment in a study of the prophets 
rather than of the secular history. 

(3) What dynasties and what kings of those dy- 
nasties reigned in Israel during the lives of Elijah 
and Elisha? 

(4) Compare the characters and careers of Ahab 
and Jehu. 

(5) What vrere the political and social conditions 
during this period? Compare them with what you 
recall of the conditions in the ages of the patriarchs 
and the judges, respectively. 



CHAPTER XII 

THE LAST YEARS OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 

(2 Kings 14:23 to 18:12, In Part) 

6S. The Powerful Jeroboam II. and His Immediate Suc- 
cessors. 

^ 1. Jeroboam II. and his reign. 
Read 2 Kings 14:23-29. 

What was his character? Wherein is his might 
shown ? 

The forty-one years of Jeroboam's reign are dismissed 
in seven verses of the Hebrew historian's text; of which 
four are taken up with the standing formulae which are 
used at the beginning and end of each reign. The writ- 
er's lack of interest in what we call history could not 
be more conspicuously shown. All that we have is the 
bare mention of Jeroboam's success in war. Yet this 
success must have been purchased by a long and bloody 
conflict, marked by many stirring incidents such as the 
memory of Israel would cherish with pride or pathos.^ 

The boundaries of the kingdom were once more ex- 
tended almost as far as David had put them. In addi- 
tion to this, Israel was powerful and was not attacked 
by any enemy, a condition of things which had not ex- 
isted since the days of Solomon. Still we ought not to 
forget, at the same time, that Jeroboam's successes were 
possible only in so far as Assyria allowed him a free 
hand.=* 

^Smith, "Old Testament History," page 208. 
^Kittel, "History of the Hebrews," Vol. II., page 295. 

(160) 



The Kingdom of Israel 161 

^2. What revolutious followed Jeroboam's death? 
and who became king at their close? 
Eead 2 Kings 15 : 8-16. 
How much time had elapsed ? 

69. The Last Stages of Israel's History. 

^ 1. The house of Menahem. 

Eead 2 Kings 15 : 17-26. 

How long did Menahem reign? What was his 
character? What significant event happened dur- 
ing his reign ? What tribute was exacted of its vas- 
sal by the great empire? Who succeeded Menahem? 
How long did he reign? and who led the conspiracy 
that brought the house of Menahem to an end? 

^2. How long did Pekah reign? and what was 
his character? 

Eead 2 Kings 15: 27, 28. 

TJ3. What alliance did Pekah make against Ju- 
dah? and with what result? 

Eead 2 Kings 15 : 37 and 16 : 5-9. 

|[ 4. What was the outcome of the entrance of As- 
syria into the afifairs of Judah-Israel ? 

Eead 2 Kings 15 : 29. 

^o. How did Pekah's reign end? 

Eead 2 Kings 15 : 30, 31. 

^ 6. Who was the last king of Israel ? What was 
his character? and what his relation to Assyria? 

Eead 2 Kings 17: 1-3. 

117. What conspiracy did Hoshea attempt? and 
with what result? 

Eead 2 Kings 17:4-6, 18:9-12. 
11 



162 An Outline of Old Testament History 

The following are the words of Sargon's inscription: 
"Samaria I besieged and captured; 27,290 of its inhab- 
itants I carried away; fifty chariots I collected from 
them; the rest I allowed to keep their property; I set 
my governor over them, and imposed the tribute of the 
former king upon them." The captives were deported to 
Northern Mesopotamia and Media.^ 

|[8. By what philosophy of history are Israel's 
downfall and captivity accounted for? 

Read 2 Kings 17:7-23. 

What specific sins are mentioned as leading to 
this result? 

U9. Relate how the mongrel people, with their 
mongrel religion, came to inhabit the land of Israel. 

Read 2 Kings 17:24-41. 

^The inscription is quoted by Skinner in the Century 
Bible on Kings, page 375; from Schrader's "The Cuneiform 
Inscriptions and the Old Testament." 



CHAPTER XIII 

THE HISTORY OF JUDAH FROM THE ACCESSION OF 
JEHOSHAPHAT TO THE CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL 

(1 Kings 22:41 to 2 Kings 16:20 and 2 Chronicles 17:1 to 

28:27) 

70. The Reigns of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah. 

I Kings 22:41 to 2 Kings 8:29, in part, and 2 
Chronicles 17:1 to 22: 9. 

^ 1. The narrative of Kings breaks off so complete- 
ly at 1 Kings 17 to turn its attention from the more 
purely political history to the careers of the two 
great prophets, Elijah and Elisha, that it was 
deemed best to study their age and activities with- 
out breaking in with the long Chronicles account of 
the history of Judah, Furthermore, it is better to 
study the history of Judah recorded in Kings in con- 
nection with the Chronicler's history. The effort to 
take these two narratives of Chronicles and Kings 
along together has been the chief cause of such rear- 
rangements of the material as have been made in 
this study. 

U2. Who succeeded Asa as king of Judah? and 
what was his character? 

Read 2 Chronicles 17:1-5, 20:31-33, and 1 Kings 
22 : 41-43. 

How long did he reign ? 

II 3. What religious reforms did he institute? 
Read 2 Chronicles 17 : 6-9, 1 Kings 22 : 46. 

11 4. What aspects of Jehoshaphat's greatness are 
mentioned ? 

(163) 



164 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Read 2 Chronicles 17 : 10 to 18 : la. 

Tj 5. The alliance with Ahab against Syria. 

Read 1 Kings 22 : 44 and 2 Chronicles 18. 

The Chronicles passage is parallel with 1 Kings 
22 : l-35a^ which has already been studied in connec- 
tion with the reign of Ahab. Compare Section 65, 
paragraphs 18-21. 

][ 6. What prophet rebukes Jehoshaphat? and what 
are his words? 

Read 2 Chronicles 19 : 1-3. 

TJT. Jehoshaphat's reorganization of the judicial 
and priestly system. 

Read 2 Chronicles 19 : 4-11. 

^ 8. What "triple alliance'^ was formed against Ju- 
dah? What did Jehoshaphat do? 

Read 2 Chronicles 20 : 1-13. 

U9. What was the assurance of the prophet? and 
what the outcome of the campaign ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 20 : 14-30. 

H" 10. The ill-fated Ophir expedition. 

Read 2 Chronicles 20 : 35-37 and 1 Kings 22 : 48, 49. 

^ 11. A note concerning Edom. 

Read 1 Kings 22 : 47. 

U 12. What sources for the life of Jehoshaphat are 
mentioned ? 

Read 1 Kings 22 : 45 and 2 Chronicles 20 : 34. 

]\ 13. The death and successor of Jehoshaphat. 

Read 1 Kings 22 : 50 and 2 Chronicles 21 : 1-3. 

What did Jehoshaphat do for other sons than Je- 
horam ? 

Tyi4. What was the character of Jehoram? and 
what did he do to his brothers ? 



The History of Judah 165 

Read 2 Chronicles 21 : 4-7 and 2 Kings 8 : 16-19. 

What kept Judah from a change of dynasty such 
as was frequent in Israel? 

U 15. The revolt of two vassals, Edom and Libnah. 

Read 2 Kings 8 : 20-22 and 2 Chronicles 21 : 8-10. 

Tjl6. What letter does Elijah write to Jehoram? 
and what evils befall him? 

Read 2 Chronicles 21 : 11-19. 

T[ 17. The death and burial of Jehoram. 

Read 2 Chronicles 21 : 20 and 2 Kings 8 : 23, 24ra. 

^18. Who succeeded Joram (or Jehoram) as king 
of Judah? and how long did he reign? 

Read 2 Kings 8:246-26a, 9:29, and 2 Chronicles 
22 : 1, 2a. 

Notice that Joram is a shorter form of Jehoram 
and keep Joram, king of Judah, carefully distin- 
guished from the king of Israel of the same name. 

^19. Who was his mother? Who was his wife? 
and what was his character? 

Read 2 Chronicles 22 : 25-4 and 2 Kings 8 : 266, 27. 

^20. The family alliance brings on a political al- 
liance and a personal fellowship, ending in the death 
of Ahaziah. 

Read 2 Kings 8 : 28, 29 and 2 Chronicles 22 : 5-9. 

The fuller account of this alliance given in Kings 
has already been studied in connection with the his- 
tory of Israel, Section 66, paragraphs 21-25, 2 Kings 
9:1 to 10:14. 

71. The Short-Lived Revolution under Athaliah and the 
Reigns of Joash and Amaziah. 

2 Kings 11 : 1 to 14 : 21, in part, and 2 Chronicles 
22:10 to 26:1. 



166 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 1. The spirit of Israel works in Judah also. 

Eead 2 Kings 11 : 1-3 and 2 Chronicles 22 : 10-12. 

It is significant that a woman of a royal line of 
Israel is the one who first disturbs the peaceful suc- 
cession of Judean kings. Who was saved from Atha- 
liah's wholesale slaughter? and by whose aid? 

^2. The counter-revolution enthrones the legiti- 
mate heir. 

Eead 2 Kings 11 : 4-20. 

Who led the counter-revolution ? and what was its 
plan? What happened to the Baal worship? and 
what covenant did the people make? 

Note that hitherto the prophet has been the chief 
religious proponent of revolution; here it is the 
priest. 

^ 3. The Chronicles account. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 23. 

The differences characteristic of Chronicles need 
not in detail concern us here. 

^[4. How long did Joash (or Jehoash) reign? and 
what was his character? 

Eead 2 Kings 11:21 to 12:3 and 2 Chronicles 
24 : 1-3. 

^ 5. The repairs of the temple and the new system 
for collecting moneys. 

Eead 2 Kings 12:4-16 and 2 Chronicles 24:4-14. 

T[ 6. The death of Jehoiada, the lapse of Joash, and 
the execution of Zechariah. 

Eead 2 Chronicles 24 : 15-22. 

*U 7. The Syrian invaders bought off with the tem- 
ple treasures. 



The History of Judah 167 

Kead 2 Kings 12:17, 18 and 2 Chronicles 24:23, 
24. 

^ 8. The death of Joash and the accession of Ama- 
ziah. 

Read 2 Kings 12 : 19-21 and 2 Chronicles 24 : 25-27. 

Note that following the conspiracy not the cap- 
tain of the host, as might have been the case in the 
northern kingdom, but the regular heir, is enthroned. 
The secret of this is personal loyalty to the memory 
of David. The greatest political asset of Judah was 
not the statesmanship of David or of any of her 
other kings, but the character and personal win- 
someness of David and the consequent loyalty to 
his memory. 

TJ9. What w^as Amaziah's character? What are 
the first acts of his reign mentioned by our histori- 
ans? and what vengeance did he take for his fa- 
ther's death ? 

Read 2 Kings 14 : 1-7 and 2 Chronicles 25 : 1-13. 

Edom had formerly been a vassal of Judah. Whom 
had Amaziah hired? and what objection did a man 
of God make? What revenge did the mercenaries 
take? 

^10. What was the character of Amaziah's reli- 
gious lapse? and what parley ensued between him 
and a prophet of Jehovah ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 25 : 14-16. 

If 11. War with Israel. 

Read 2 Chronicles 25 : 17-24. 

The incident has already been studied in connec- 
tion with the reign of Joash of Israel in the almost 
verbally identical account of 2 Kings 14 : 8-16. 



Ji>8 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^ 12. The conspiracy against Amaziah and the ac- 
cession of Uzziah (or Azariah). 

Eead 2 Kings 14 : 17-21 and 2 Chronicles 25 : 25 to 
26:1. 

Eead paragraph 8 for a discussion of the signifi- 
cance of this accession. 

72. The Reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz. 

2 Kings 14 : 21 to 16 : 20, in part, and 2 Chronicles 
26:1 to 28:27. 

][ 1. What short summary does the book of Kings 
give of Uzziah's life and reign ? 

Read 2 Kings 14 : 21, 22 and 15 : 1-7. 

How long did he reign ? 

McCurdy calls him "the most influential king that 
ever reigned over Judah.''^ 

^2. What account of Uzziah's might and activities 
does the Chronicler give? 

Read 2 Chronicles 26 : 1-15. 

11 3. Of what ritual transgression was Uzziah 
guilty? and what followed? 

Read 2 Chronicles 26 : 16-23. 

Who was regent or coregent during his later 
years ? 

TJ4. The reign of Jotham. 

Read 2 Kings 15 : 32-38 and 2 Chronicles 27. 

What was his character? What building projects 
did he put through ? and what successful war did he 
carry on? 

^5. Who succeeded Jotham? How long did he 
reign? and what was his religious attitude? 

^"History, Prophecy, and the Monuments," Section 1358n. 



The History of Judah 169 

Eead 2 Kings 16 : 14 and 2 Chronicles 28 : 1-4. 

^6. What was the result of the war with Syria 
and Israel? and what prophetic protest was made 
against the victorious Israelites? 

Eead 2 Kings 16 : 5, 6 and 2 Chronicles 28 : 5-15. 

^7. T\Tiat alliance did Ahaz make? and with what 
result? How did he pay his tribute? 

Eead 2 Kings 16:7-9, 17, 18 and 2 Chronicles 
28 : 16-21. 

T[ 8. Where did Ahaz find the pattern for the new 
altar he built in the temple? 

Eead 2 Kings 16 : 10-16. 

11 9. Into what excessive idolatries did Ahaz fall ? 

Eead 2 Chronicles 28:22-25. 

^ 10. The death and successor of Ahaz. 

Eead 2 Kings 16:19, 20 and 2 Chronicles 28:26, 
27. 



CHAPTER XIV 

THE HISTORY OF JUDAH FROM THE FALL OF ISRAEL 
TO HER CAPTIVITY 

(2 Kings 18 to 25 and 2 Chronicles 29 to 36) 
73. The Reigii of Hezekiah. 

2 Kings 18 to 20 and 2 Chronicles 29 to 32. 

^ 1. How long did Hezekiah reign ? What was his 
character? and what religious reform did Hezekiah 
institute? 

Read 2 Kings 18 : l-7a and 2 Chronicles 29 : 1-19. 

11 2. The rededication of the temple. 

Read 2 Chronicles 29 : 20-36. 

1[3. The invitation to the remnants of the north- 
ern tribes to join Judah in a general Passover cele- 
bration in Jerusalem. 

Read 2 Chronicles 30 : 1-12. 

How was this invitation received by the Isra- 
elites ? 

^ 4. The Passover. 

Read 2 Chronicles 30 : 13-27. 

With what previous age is the occasion compared ? 

^5. In what sort of a crusade did the people join 
after the Passover? 

Read 2 Chronicles 31 : 1. 

^ 6. Hezekiah organizes the system of worship. 

Read 2 Chronicles 31:2-21. 

^ 7. Hezekiah submits to the king of Assyria. 

Read 2 Kings 18 : 75, 8 and 13-16. 

With what does he pay the required tribute? 
(170) 



The History of Judah 171 

^8. Sennacherib shuts him up in Jerusalem and 
lays siege to the city. 

Read 2 Chronicles 32 : 1-8 and 2 Kings 18 : 17-37. 

What steps does Hezekiah take in defense? How 
does he still the fears of the people? What argu- 
ments do the emissaries of Sennacherib use to dis- 
suade the people ? 

^9. What does Hezekiah do? and what is the as- 
surance of Isaiah the prophet? 

Read 2 Kings 19 : 1-7. 

^ 10. What is the second message of Sennacherib ? 
and what is the message of Isaiah ? 

Read 2 Kings 19 : 8-34. 

^ 11. The Chronicler's summary of the messages of 
Sennacherib and their effect. 

Read 2 Chronicles 32 : 9-20. 

^ 12. What was the result of the invasion of Sen- 
nacherib ? 

Read 2 Kings 19 : 35-37 and 2 Chronicles 32 : 21-23. 

The best interpretation in modern art of this in- 
cident is not in painting or music, but in poetry. 
Read Byron's "The Destruction of Sennacherib." 

^ 13. Hezekiah's sickness and repentance. 

Read 2 Chronicles 32 : 24-26 and 2 Kings 20 : 1-11. 

Of what did Isaiah make a poultice for Hezekiah ? 
What was the "sign" of the coming recovery? 

^ 14. Hezekiah's greatness. 

Read 2 Chronicles 32 : 27-30. 

^15. How did Hezekiah receive the Babylonian 
embassy? and what was Isaiah's message concern- 
ing it ? 

Read 2 Chronicles 32 : 31 and 2 Kings 20 : 12-19. 



172 An Outline of Old Testament History 

^16. What sources on Hezekiah's life are men- 
tioned ? 

Bead 2 Kings 20 : 20 and 2 Chronicles 32 : 32. 
^ 17. The death and the successor of Hezekiah. 
Read 2 Kings 20 : 21 and 2 Chronicles 32 : 33. 

74. The Place of the Prophet in Israel's History. 

Having studied the activity of Isaiah, it is a good 
time to pause and note the place of the prophet in 
Hebrew history ; for the real significance of the suc- 
cession of dynasties and kings in Israel and Judah 
is that it forms the setting for the work of the 
prophets. But for them the lives of these kings 
would be of no more interest to the world than the 
petty ups and downs of the kings and armies of 
Moab and Philistia, and Israel and Judah would be 
taken into account only by the technical historian 
who studies the fortunes of the great empires of the 
East to which they at one time or another acknowl- 
edged or refused allegiance. 

The prophetic statecraft assumed two phases : one 
purely political in its nature as advisers of the 
kings ; the other, since Church and State were one, 
the regulation of the worship and opposition to the 
introduction of foreign religions. It has already 
been seen that Samuel was the original king maker 
of Israel and the real founder of the monarchy. Lat- 
er Nathan (1 Kings Irllff.) secured the succession 
for Solomon at a time when Adonijah, backed by 
Joab, the chief of the army, and Abiathar, the priest, 
had it within easy grasp. Ahijah, the prophet of 
Shiloh (1 Kings 11:26-39), instigated the rebellion 



The History of Judah 173 

of Jeroboam ; aud it is he who later prouounces Jero- 
boam's doom (14:7-16). Elijah stands firmly 
against royal tyrannj^ in the matter of Kaboth's 
vineyard and resents the introduction of foreign 
worship by Ahab and Jezebel. Elisha carries out 
Elijah's policy by instigating a rebellion against the 
house of Ahab, sending one of his fellow prophets 
to anoint Jehu king of Israel and champion of Je- 
hovah's religion (2 Kings 9:1-3). Isaiah is pre- 
eminently the court prophet and statesman. He 
stands against Ahaz on the question of calling in 
the aid of Tiglath-Pileser, of i^ssyria, and is against 
entangling alliances with foreign nations. Jere- 
miah counsels submission to Babylon as the only 
feasible stroke of statecraft as against the restless 
^^false prophets" and princes, whose ill-advised re- 
volts brought ruin on their land. 

More important far than the political side of the 
prophets' activity is their progressive leadership in 
religious ideals. This aspect, however, does not 
come into consideration here. A study of Hebrew 
history or even of Old Testament history would re- 
quire a detailed account of the prophetic teaching, 
fitting it as far as possible into the proper chrono- 
logical setting; but this is a study of the historical 
books of the Old Testament rather than of the Old 
Testament history. There are many advantages in 
the method here pursued. Especially does it waive 
the difficult questions of the authorship and dates 
of the various prophetic writings. 

xlttention should be called in passing, neverthe- 
less, to the great economic revolution of the eighth 



174 An Outline of Old Testament History 

century, when the concentration of wealth into the 
hands of the few made for luxury amongst the rich 
and oppression of the poor, and to the battle in be- 
half of social justice waged by Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, 
and Micah. These enlarging social ideals go along 
in these same prophets with enlarging conceptions 
of God and of Israel's place in God's economy. 

75. The Reigns of Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah: Reaction 
and Reform. 

2 Kings 21 : 1 to 23 : 30 and 2 Chronicles 33 to 35. 

^1. What was the character of Manasseh and of 
his reign ? 

Bead 2 Kings 21 : 1-9 and 2 Chronicles 33 : 1-9. 

^2. The prediction of the captivity of Judah in 
view of Manasseh's sins. 

Read 2 Kings 21 : 10-17. 

^3. Manasseh's captivity and repentance. 

Read 2 Chronicles 33 : 10-19. 

^ 4. Manasseh's death, burial, and successor. 

Read 2 Kings 21 : 18 and 2 Chronicles 33 : 20. 

Where was he buried ? 

^5. What was the character of Amon and of his 
reign? 

Read 2 Kings 21 : 19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33 : 21-25. 

What was the result of the conspiracy against 
him ? Compare Section 71, paragraph 8. 

^6. How old was Josiah when he began to reign? 
How long did he reign? What was his character? 
and what religious reforms did he institute? 

Read 2 Kings 22 : 1, 2 and 2 Chronicles 34 : 1-7. 

^7. The repair of the temple and finding of the 
book of the law. 



The History of Judali 175 

Read 2 Kings 22:3-11 and 2 Chronicles 34:8-19. 

Modern scholars generally consider that the book 
of the law found by Hilkiah was the book of Deuter- 
onomy. What effect did the reading of the book of 
the law have on the king? 

Tf8. What did the prophetess Huldah say in in- 
terpretation of the warnings of the law ? 

Read 2 Kings 22 : 12-20 and 2 Chronicles 34 : 20-28. 

II 9. The general assembly and the great Reforma- 
tion. 

Read 2 Kings 23 : 1-20 and 2 Chronicles 34 : 29-33. 

What were the chief features of the Reformation? 
and how far did it extend ? 

^ 10. The great Passover. 

Read 2 Kings 23 : 21-27 and 2 Chronicles 35 : 1-19. 

If 11. How did Josiah meet his death? 

Read 2 Chronicles 35 : 20-27 and 2 Kings 23 : 28-30. 

76. The Last Days of the Southern Kingdom. 

2 Kings 23 : 306 to 27 : 30 and 2 Chronicles 36. 

lyi. Who succeeded Josiah? and what was his 
fate? 

Read 2 Kings 23 : 306-33 and 2 Chronicles 36 : 1-4. 

^2. How long did Jehoiakim rule? and what was 
the course of events during his reign ? 

Read 2 Kings 23 : 34 to 24 : 7. 

Note how fully Judah had become what in a meas- 
ure Judah and Israel had been through a large part 
of their history — the football of the Oriental em- 
pires, in the hands of first one and then another. 

^3. How long did Jehoiachin reign? Whom and 



176 An Outline of Old Testament History 

what treasure did Nebuchadnezzar take captive to 
Babylon ? 

Read 2 Kings 24 : 8-17. 

Tjl. The Chronicles account of the reigns of Je- 
hoiakim and Jehoiachin. 

Read 2 Chronicles 36 : 5-10. 

^5. How long did Zedekiah reign? How did his 
reign end? and w^hat was his fate? 

Read 2 Chronicles 36 : 11-13 and 2 Bangs 24 : 18 to 
25:7. 

What was the king's fate? 

T[ 6. The destruction of Jerusalem and the deporta- 
tion of a second group of captives and of a second 
installment of treasure. 

Read 2 Kings 25 : 8-21. 

Who were deported this time? 

^ 7. Relate the history of the governorship of Ged- 
aliah. 

Read 2 Kings 25 : 22-26. 

^ 8. The release of Jehoiachin. 

Read 2 Kings 25:27-30. 

Skinner, following Meyer, says : 

The precise significance of the event is obscure; and 
little is to be gained by speculation regarding the mo- 
tives, political or other, of so remarkable an act of clem- 
ency on the part of Evil-merodach. But it is obvious 
that it must have excited the liveliest expectations in the 
Jewish community. The bestowal of royal honors on 
their king was at once a recognition of their nationality, 
and, from a higher point of view, a pledge of Yahweh*s^ 

^See footnote, page 151. 



The History of Judah 177 

continued favor to the dynasty of David, round which the 
Messianic hope had entwined itself.^ 

^ 9. The meaning of it all. 

Eead 2 Kings 24 : 3, 4 and 2 Chronicles 36 : 14-21. 

77. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Read at a single sitting the second book of 
Kings. 

(2) Compare the course of the history of Judah 
and Israelj respectively. 

(3) Compare the captivity of the two peoples and 
the events leading up thereto. 

(4) Read 2 Chronicles at a sitting. Compare it 
with 2 Kings. 

(5) Summary. 

The following is the record of the dynasties and 
kings of Israel : Jeroboam reigned twenty- two years, 
being succeeded by his son Nadab, under whom, aft- 
er two years, Baasha revolted and established him- 
self as a king. He reigned twenty-four years; but 
two years after his death Zimri, the captain of half 
the chariots, assassinated his son Elah and claimed 
the throne for seven short days. Zimri had planned 
poorly, not having gotten the backing of the army, 
who hailed Omri, their general, as king. The house 
of Omri was perhaps the greatest of Israel's dynas- 
ties, and "the land of the house of Omri" is the usu- 
al Assyrian designation of Israel. He was followed 
after twelve years by his son Ahab, whose long reign 
of twenty-two years, marked by his own vigor and 

^Kings in the New Century Bible, page 438, 

13 



178 An Outline of Old Testament History 

energy, was chiefly noteworthy for the activities of 
Elijah. Ahaziah, his son, reigned two years, fol- 
lowed by his brother Joram, whose reign of twelve 
years ended the dynasty of Omri. Jehu, as the 
champion of Jehovah against the foreign deities in- 
troduced by Ahab and his foreign wife, Jezebel, head- 
ed a rebellion and established a remarkable dynasty 
represented by himself (twenty-eight years), his son 
Jehoahaz (seventeen years), Jehoash (sixteen 
years), the powerful Jeroboam II. (forty-one years), 
and Zechariah (six months). But after them came 
the end through a succession of kings, representing 
almost as many separate dynasties — Shallum, who 
reigned one month to fall before Menahem (ten 
years), whose son Pekahiah, after two years, suc- 
cumbed to the conspiracy of his chief captain, Pe- 
kah (twenty years), the last in turn falling before 
the conspiracy of Hoshea, who reigned nine years. 

During this period the empire of Assyria had been 
gradually becoming more formidable, while Israel, 
torn by internal dissensions and staining his sword 
now with the blood of his brother Judah, now with 
that of his other neighbors, was rapidly being pre- 
pared for the final slaughter. During the reign ot 
Pekah (2 Kings 15:29) and Hoshea (17:6) the 
leading people of Israel were led away captive by 
the Assyrians, and foreign colonists (17:24) were 
brought into the land. With this the northern king- 
dom passes forever off the stage of history, and a 
mongrel people with a mongrel religion, half He- 
brew, half foreign, inhabits the land of Israel. 

Things had not been going altogether well mean- 



The History of Judah 179 

while in the land of Jndah ; but loyalty to the mem- 
ory of David and the sense of the sacredness of the 
king, Jehovah's anointed, kept the Davidic dynasty 
ever upon the throne. The outward history of Ju- 
dah is very much like that of Israel. The two king- 
doms are now at war with each other, now allied 
against a neighboring nation, now one or the other 
is attacked by some petty rival or by the powerful 
empires of Egypt, Assyria, or Babylon. The most 
noteworthy event of the southern kingdom was per- 
haps the moral and religious reformation under Jo- 
siah, which delayed for a while its decline and de- 
cay (2 Kings 22ff.). 

The succession of the kings is as follows: Eeho- 
boam, seventeen years ;i Abijam, three years; Asa, 
forty-one years ; Jehoshaphat, twenty- five years ; Je- 
horam, eight years; Ahaziah, one year; Athaliah, 
the usurping queen, six years ; Jehoash, forty years ; 
Amaziah, twenty-nine years; Uzziah (Azariah), fif- 
ty-two years; Jotham, sixteen years; Ahaz, sixteen 
years ; Hezekiah, twenty-nine years ; Manasseh, fifty- 
five years; Amon, two years; Josiah, thirty-one 
years; Jehoahaz, three months; Jehoiakim, eleven 
years; Jehoiachin, three months; Zedekiah, eleven 
years. 

Erelong the fate of Israel overtakes Judah also, 
yet not without the thought and hope that it was 
Jehovah's method of punishing and purifying a na- 
tion separate and holy unto himself. It must not be 

^The numbers give the length of the reigns according to 
2 Kings. 



180 An Outline of Old Testament Historic 

thought that all the Jews were deported nor that 
life in the captivity was prison life or even slavery 
such as Israel had suflfered in Egypt. The Jewish 
exiles had their own homes and lands, their own in- 
ternal organizations, their own prophets and lead- 
ers. The house of the prophet Ezekiel seems to have 
been a frequent rallying place for the elders of Ju- 
dah (Ezekiel 8 : 1, 14 : 1, 20 : 1), and the whole tenor 
of his prophecies indicates a very normal life for the 
exiles. They w^ere likewise in communication with 
the homeland, where a majority of the people had 
remained, in their midst being no less a figure than 
the prophet Jeremiah. 

The exiles continued by the rivers of Babylon, sad 
at heart and downcast or entering with avidity into 
new pursuits ; but some of the more devout and pa- 
triotic spirits kept alive a longing for the fatherland 
and the hope of return and dreamed their nation 
back into life with the further hope that there should 
never cease one to sit upon the throne of David. 

Into the history of that return we are to enter 
next. 



CHAPTER XV 

THE RETURN AND RESTORATION OF THE JEWISH PEO- 
PLE: A FURTHER CONTINUATION OF THE PROCESS 
OF REDEMPTION BY ELECTION 

(Ezra and Nehemiah) 
78. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. 

As good a summary of the characteristics of Ezra 
and Nehemiah as can be found is, perhaps, that of 
Driver : 

Ezra and Nehemiah form in the Jewish canon a single 
book, "Ezra." This hook embraces the period from the 
return of the exiles under Zerubhabel, B.C. 537, to the 
second visit of Nehemiah in B.C. 432; but the history is 
not told continuously: it is confined chiefly to certain 
periods or occasions of importance, viz., the return, and 
events immediately following it (B.C. 536), the rebuild- 
ing of the temple (B.C. 520-16), and the visits of Ezra and 
Nehemiah in B.C. 458, 444, and 432. Parts of the book of 
Ezra are written in Aramaic (4:8 to 6:18; 7:12 to 26). 

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are a compilation 
made by an author (to all appearance identical with the 
Chronicler) writing long after the age of Ezra and Ne- 
hemiah themselves, on the basis, partly, of the authentic 
"memoirs" (as the parts written in the first person are 
generally termed) of those two reformers, and partly 
of other materials. The compilatory character of the 
two books is apparent from many indications — (1) The 
change, in both, from the 1st to the 3rd person, and 
vice versa, which one and the same writer might make, 
as Thucydides does, at wide intervals in his work, but 
which is not probable in nearly contiguous sections. (2) 
The unevenness in the treatment of the history. There 
are long periods on which the narrative is silent: in one 
case especially (Ezra 6:22 to 7:1), an interval of sixty 
years, immediately before Ezra's own time, being passed 

(181) 



182 An Outline of Old Testament History 

over by the words, "After these things/' in a manner not 
credible if the writer were Ezra himself, but perfectly 
natural if the writer lived in an age to which the period 
B.C. 516-458 was visible only in a distant perspective. 
(3) The style and language differ. In certain parts of 
the two books the personality of the writers is very prom- 
inent; it is conspicuous both in their tone and manner 
and in their phraseology: other parts show much less 
force and originality, and at the same time exhibit close 
affinities with the style of the Chronicler.^ 

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah then recount 
the history merely of certain events (in this it is 
not very unlike much of the Old Testament history) ; 
and there is the long period of the exile, concerning 
which no direct historical writing has been pre- 
served. The prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah, 
however, give information concerning the situation 
in Babjdon and Palestine during this period. The 
latter part of Isaiah hails Cyrus as a deliverer, and 
other Old Testament writers mention or reflect one 
or another phase of the life of the period. In like 
manner the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah 
throw light on the events recounted in the books of 
Ezra and Nehemiah ; but the interest of the present 
study is with the historical books of the Old Testa- 
ment, not with the side lights upon the record there 
found, whether from Biblical or extra-Biblical 
sources. For a treatment of these one is referred 
to the various histories of the period. 
79. The Return and the Rebuilding of the Temple. 

Ezra 1 to 6 and Nehemiah 7 : 5-73. 

^Driver's "Introduction to the Literature of the Old Tes- 
tament," pages 540, 541, and 544. 



Restoration of the Jewish People 183 

^ 1. What was the decree of Cyrus concerning the 
Jews and the temple? and what was the response of 
many Jewish leaders and their neighbors? 

Eead 2 Chronicles 36 : 22, 23 and Ezra 1 : 1-11. 

What disposition did Cyrns make of the temple 
treasures that Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Baby- 
lon? 

112. The list of those returning. 

Eead Ezra 2 : 1-67 and Nehemiah 7 : 5-69. 

|[3. The liberality of certain leaders and the re- 
settlement of the homeland. 

Read Ezra 2 : 68-70 and Nehemiah 7 : 70-73. 

1[4. Regular worship is resumed without waiting 
for a rebuilt temple, and the foundations of the tem- 
ple are laid. 

Read Ezra 3 : 1-13. 

|[5. What proposal did the Samaritans make to 
the returned exiles? and what answer did they re- 
ceive? 

Read Ezra 4 : 1-3. 

Yv^ho were these Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24-41) ? 
and why did the Jewish leaders thus refuse them? 
Compare the Chronicles account of Hezekiah's Pass- 
over (2 Chronicles 30). 

^6. What was the result of the rejection of the 
Samaritan proposal? and what charges did the Sa- 
maritans bring against the Jews before the Persian 
king? 

Read P^zra 4 : 4-16. 

117. What was the answer of Artaxerxes? What 
is the sequel? 

Read Ezra 4 : 17-24. 



184 An Outline of Old Testament History 

]\ 8. What prophets prophesied in behalf of the re- 
building of the temple? and with what result? 

Read Ezra 5 : 1, 2. 

See the books of Haggai and Zechariah for their 
prophecies. 

][ 9. What obstacle was thrown in the way by Tat- 
tenai? Who was he? 

Read Ezra 5 : 3-17. 

What were the contents of the letter to King Da- 
rius ? 

^10. What was the result of the king's investiga- 
tion? What was the purport of the decree of Da- 
rius ? 

Read Ezra 6 : 1-12. 

11 11. The temple finished and rededicated^ and the 
first Passover of the new temple celebrated. 

Read Ezra 6 : 13-22. 

80. The ComiQg of Ezra and the Beginning of the Reform. 

Ezra 7 to 10. 
til. Says Ryle: 

After the dedication of the temple there follows a 
period of nearly 60 years, during which the history of 
the Jewish community at Jerusalem is almost a complete 
blank. The generation to which Zerubbabel and Jeshua, 
Haggai and Zachariah belonged passes completely from 
our view. When the curtain lifts again, the chief power 
among the Jews has passed from the family of David. 
Zerubbabel was dead; and his sons (1 Chron. 3:19, 20) 
had not succeeded him."^ 

11 2. Who was Ezra ? What did he do ? 
Read Ezra 7 : 1-10. 

^Ezra in the Cambridge Bible, page xxxvii. 



Restoration of the Jeicish People 185 

T[3. What was the purport of the decree of Ar- 
taxerxes ? 

Eead Ezra 7 : 11-26. 

What was the king's motive (verse 23) ? What 
would the phrase ^^God of heaven'' mean to him? 
What especial dispensation was made in favor of 
the oflScers of the temple? What commission was 
given Ezra? 

1J 4. Ezra's doxology. 

Read Ezra 7:27, 28. 

^ 5. Ezra's list of his company of returning exiles. 

Eead Ezra 8 : 1-14. 

Here we enter upon the so-called "I section" of 
Ezra (Ezra 7:27 to 9:15), where the story is told 
in the first person. Similarly there are "I sections'^ 
in Nehemiah and "we sections" in the New Testa- 
ment book of Acts. 

^ 6. The assembling by the river Ahava. 

Eead Ezra 8 : 15-20. 

Look up in the commentaries the various explana- 
tions of the absence of Levites at first. 

^7. Why did Ezra proclaim a fast? What rea- 
sons does he give for not asking a bodyguard of the 
king? 

Eead Ezra 8 : 21-23. 

^ 8. Men appointed to take charge of the treasures 
and ofiferings. 

Eead Ezra 8:24-30. 

^ 9. The journey and the arrival at Jerusalem. 

Ezra 8 : 31 to 9 : 5. 

What did the party do on their arrival? What 



186 An Outline of Old Testament History 

condition of afifairs did Ezra find? and what was 
his feeling toward it? 

]J 10. Ezra's prayer. 

Read Ezra 9 : 6-15. 

How does Ezra feel toward the morals and reli- 
gion of the fathers? What sort of God does he con- 
ceive Jehovah to be? 

Ijll. Relate the story of the general repentance 
and reformation in the matter of mixed marriages. 

Read Ezra 10. 

81. Nehemiah, the Volunteer Governor. 

Nehemiah 1 : 1 to 7 : 6. 

^ 1. The beginning of the "I section" of Nehemiah. 

Read Nehemiah 1 : la. 

T[ 2. What tidings did Nehemiah receive of Jerusa- 
lem? and what was his feeling on hearing the re- 
port? 

Read Nehemiah 1 : 16-116. 

How long a time had intervened between this and 
the previously related events ? Compare Ezra 7 : 7, 
10 : 9, and 16, 17 and Nehemiah 1 : 1 and 2 : 1. Where 
was Shushan? What was the purport of Nehe- 
miah's prayer? Compare Nehemiah's prayer with 
Ezra's. 

TJS. Nehemiah- s commission. 

Read Nehemiah 1 : lie to 2 : 8. 

What was Nehemiah's official position? and what 
conversation occurred between him and the king? 
Who was king? and what was Nehemiah's commis- 
sion from him? 



Restoration of the Jewish People 187 

T[ 4. How was Nehemiah received by certain neigh- 
boring local leaders? 

Read Nehemiah 2 : 9, 10. 

^5. Nehemiah's secret tour of inspection. 

Read Nehemiah 2 : 11-16. 

Like the able man he was, Nehemiah takes pains 
to get first-hand information prior to laying his 
plans before the local leaders. 

^6. What did Nehemiah then do? and with what 
result ? 

Read Nehemiah 2 : 17-20. 

What did some neighboring leaders do ? 

H" 7. The workers and their work. 

Read Nehemiah 3. 

TJS. What steps did Sanballat and his confreres 
take ? How did Nehemiah meet the situation ? 

Read Nehemiah 4. 

T[9. Serious economic problems and economic re- 
form. 

Read Nehemiah 5 : 1-13. 

Compare Solomon's Temple and the consequent 
heavy burden of taxation and impressment of labor. 
The probably more willing service in the building of 
the walls under Nehemiah causes an equally serious 
economic situation. 

^10. Nehemiah's generous renunciation of a gov- 
ernor's financial remuneration. 

Read Nehemiah 5 : 14-19. 

Jefferson did the United States a great service 
by refusing to follow the example of Washington 
and Adams in declining a salary as President. He 
did not need the salary, but his democratic insight 



188 An Outline of Old Testament History 

saw how impossible it would be for a poor man to 
hold office under the old regime. Nehemiah's was a 
special situation, however, and his was a great serv- 
ice as well as a noble sacrifice. Compare Paul's 
and Socrates's refusal of pay for services. 

^11. What request did Sanballat and his associ- 
ates make? What was Nehemiah's answer? and 
w^hat insidious charge was made against the Jews? 

Eead Nehemiah 6 : 1-9. 

|[12. What proposal does Shemaiah make? What 
is Nehemiah's answer? and what was Nehemiah's 
prayer concerning these foes? 

Read Nehemiah 6 : 10-14. 

Compare Section 66, paragraph 2, and references 
there given. Compare also Luke 23 : 34, Acts 7 : 60, 
and Romans 12 : 17-21. How far was the occasion 
different from these New Testament incidents? 

^13. When were the walls finished? What was 
the general situation ? 

Read Nehemiah 6 : 15-19. 

^ 14. Nehemiah's orders for the city's defense. 

Read Nehemiah 7 : 1-5. 

What is said of the size and population of the 
city? 

The list in Chapter VII. has already been studied 
in connection with the return of Zerubbabel. 

82. The Real Foundations of Judaism. 

Nehemiah 7:735 to 13:31. 

Tj 1. The great assembly for the reading of the law. 

Read Nehemiah 7 : 73?> to 8 : 8. 

In this assembly the spirit of Judaism as against 



Restoration of the Jewish People 189 

the earlier Hebrew spirit comes forward. The law 
and its exposition become more central; the syna- 
gogue and its tj^pe of service become from now on 
the typical expression of the national religion. 

Compare the reformation under Josiah, Section 
75, paragraphs 6-11. 

T[2. What was the first impulse of the people on 
hearing the rigors of the law ? and what was the ex- 
hortation of Xehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites? 

Eead Nehemiah 8 : 9-12. 

1j 3. The feast of tabernacles. 

Eead Ezra 8 : 13-18. 

11"4. Summarize the general confession and its 
summary of Israel's history. 

Eead Nehemiah 9 : 1-38. 

What conception of God is here expressed? 

^ 5. The signers and indorsers of the covenant. 

Eead Nehemiah 10 : 1-28. 

^6. What were the chief obligations of the cove- 
nant these indorsers assumed ? 

Eead Nehemiah 10:29-39. 

^7. What provision was made for the repopula- 
tion of Jerusalem? 

Eead Nehemiah 11 : 1, 2. 

^8. What several lists are given in Nehemiah 
11:3 to 12:26? 

Eead the passage referred to. 

IT 9. What features marked the dedication of the 
walls? 

Eead Nehemiah 12 : 27-43. 

1[ 10. The organization of the temple oflScials. 

Eead Nehemiah 12 : 44-47. 



190 All Outline of Old Testament History 

Tl 11. The case of Tobiah. 

Eead Nehemiah 13 : 1-5. 

T[12. Where was Nehemiah during the last-men- 
tioned events? and what did he do on his return to 
Jerusalem ? 

Eead Nehemiah 13 : 6-14. 

How long had he been in Jerusalem before his re- 
turn to Persia? What was the tone of Nehemiah's 
prayer? and what do you think of that tone in com- 
parison with the teaching of Jesus and Paul ? 

^13. What incident brings up the Sabbath ques- 
tion? and what is Nehemiah's order upon that sub- 
ject? 

Eead Nehemiah 13 : 15-22. 

Tjll. What other reform did Nehemiah insist 
upon? 

Eead Nehemiah 13 : 23-31. 

83. Exercise and Review. 

(1) Eead Ezra and Nehemiah at a sitting. 

(2) Compare and contrast the spirit of this age 
with that of the age of the patriarchs ; with the age 
of the judges ; with the age of David ; with the age of 
Elijah. 

(3) Compare Nehemiah and Ezra; Nehemiah and 
David; Ezra and Nathan; Ezra and Elijah. 

(4) Compare the political status of the Jews of 
this age with the status in former periods. 

(5) Eeview your "scheme'' made pursuant to the 
exercise prescribed in Section 60 (4) ; then reread 
Section 77 (5) ; and then complete the "scheme" by 
making a similar one for Chapters X.-XV., and mem- 
orize the entire "scheme.'' 



CHAPTER XVI 

RESUME AND REVIEW 
84. 

We have now come to the close of the Old Testa- 
ment history. The narrative is not an even and con- 
tinuous one. The priestly narrative of Chronicles- 
Ezra-Nehemiah begins with a series of genealogies, 
gives in some detail the story of David's reign, then 
confines its interest to Judah and the temple, omits 
the story of the years of the exile, and recounts only 
the chief periods of the age of the restoration. The 
prophetic narrative, beginning with the creation of 
the world, gives a few pages to the early history of 
mankind, after which the story becomes biograph- 
ical, detailing the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 
and Joseph. Then follows a national history of the 
Mosaic age, in which the character and career of Mo- 
ses are dwelt upon, yet always in subordination to 
the history of the people. The story of the conquest 
comes next, and sketches of the life work of leading 
local heroes until in Samuel, Saul, and David nation- 
al heroes appear. In all these the personal and the 
national interest mingle. The accounts of them are 
more like Plutarch's "Lives" than like a Thucyd- 
idean history. With Solomon and his successors 
tlie political history assumes prime importance, ex- 
cept that the temple and the religious life of the 
I^eople receive a large share of the attention. This 
general political history is broken into by a long sec- 
tion when the lives and activities of the two great 
prophets, Elijah and Elisha, assume the foreground. 

(191) 



192 An Outline of Old Testament History 

The philosophy of history underlying these rec- 
ords is: 

"Righteousness exalteth a nation; 
But sin is a reproach to any people." 

(Prov. 14:34.) 

This righteousness has a strong theological cast. 
Its illustration is found in the entire history of Is- 
rael. "And Jehovah raised up judges/' says the rec- 
ord, "who saved them out of the hand of those 
that despoiled them. And yet they hearkened not 
unto their judges; for they played the harlot after 
other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them : 
they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein 
their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of 
Jehovah; iut they did not so. And when Jehovah 
raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the 
judge, and saved them out of the hand of their en- 
emies all the days of the judge: for it repented Je- 
hovah because of their groaning by reason of them 
that oppressed them and vexed them. But it came 
to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned 
back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, 
in following after other gods to serve them, and to 
bow down unto them; they ceased not from their 
doings, nor from their stubborn way. And the an- 
ger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he 
said, Because this nation have transgressed my cove- 
nant which I commanded their fathers, and have 
not hearkened unto my voice ; I also will not hence- 
forth drive out any from before them of the nations 
that Joshua left when he died.'' (Judges 2:16-21.) 



Resume and Review 193 

Not lack of armies, therefore, but sin was the cause 
of Israel's woe. Following out these principles, 
with marvelous insight Psalm 37 sets forth the ulti- 
mate result of the forces of history. Not the war- 
like and the proud, but 

"The meek shall inherit the land, 

And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." 

(Ps. 37:11.) 

These narratives tell the story of a great people. 
The patriarchal age may be compared to the coloni- 
zation age in America, when various groups, having 
split off from communities in their mother country, 
came to the New World — the Pilgrims in New Eng- 
land, Dutch in New York, Quakers in Pennsylvania, 
Catholics in Maryland, Cavaliers in Virginia, Hu- 
guenots in South Carolina, and the others, with the 
Spanish in the South and Southwest and the French 
in the West and in Canada. This is the period of mi- 
gration and the protozoic stage of history. Then 
follow in Israel and America, respectively, the exo- 
dus and the revolution, the master strokes for free- 
dom; and the task of Washington in dealing with 
the people, with Congress and the army, was not un- 
like some of Moses's experiences. Then come the 
years when the nation was a ^^rope of sand," fol- 
lowed by the establishment of a union under Sam- 
uel, Saul, and David in Israel and the enunciation 
and enforcing of the doctrine of the Union by Web- 
ster and Jackson in America. Later in the revolt 
of Jeroboam and the secession of the Southern 
States there is a further parallel. 
13 



194 An Outline of Old Testament History 

With the close of the book of Kiugs the prophetic 
narrative and with the close of Nehemiah the priest- 
ly narrative of the Old Testament close upon the 
history of the Hebrew people. From Ur of Chaldea 
as a nomadic tribe; settled in Egypt and enslaved; 
welded into a nation in the fires of a common suf- 
fering by a masterly leader ; a wandering tribe again, 
or rather a federation of tribes, pending their final 
settlement in the land of their fathers; the for- 
mation of a kingdom ; division ; varying fortunes and 
the captivities, when the northern kingdom pass- 
es off the stage of history forever; the return and 
restoration of the southern kingdom, with the hope 
that there shall never cease one to sit upon the 
throne of David — through these years what noble 
struggles, what heart-rending mistakes and failures ! 

A knowledge of the character of the Old Testa- 
ment narrative, however, and of the outline of the 
history is by no means a knowledge of the Old Tes- 
tament history itself. One must view it in relation 
to its central theme, must understand why it is a 
genuine unity and what binds its various parts to- 
gether. This central theme of the Old Testament as 
a whole and, really, the chief reason for its having 
been gathered together into a single canon at all, is 
the story of sin and the process of redemption. 

The opening picture of the Bible history presents 
God's ideal world, fresh from the making of his own 
hand. Man is the center of creation, and everything 
conceivable is done for his comfort and welfare. In 
the garden in which he is placed there grows not 
only every tree that is good for food, but every tree 



Resume ajid Review 195 

that is pleasant to the sight (Genesis 2:9) ; and in 
the midst of all the tree of life, hard by which flows 
the River of Eden. For his companionship woman 
is made, and God himself deigns to walk in the cool 
of the eventide and to commune with the creature of 
his hand. And it is not a thoughtless, idle heaven 
in which man is placed. The nobler responsibilities 
without the vexing worries are his, for God placed 
him in the garden "to dress it and to keep it." And, 
best of all, no sin is there. 

But from this state of primeval innocence and joy 
man falls through sin. It is only an act of disobedi- 
ence, not done through willful rebellion, but through 
yielding to present temptation ; yet man experiences 
his first consciousness of sin, realizes his own na- 
kedness, and attempts to hide himself from God. 
Nor is this tragedy of Eden hard for us to under- 
stand, for it is reenacted in every life. Alas, too, 
it is not the whole story either with us or in Eden ! 
Sin at its next appearance had grown from simple 
disobedience to murder. Cain, the first-born of the 
disobedient, erstwhile innocent pair, in a fit of anger 
kills his brother ; and it is not many generations be- 
fore the wild boast falls from the lips of Lamech that 
he will be many times more savage than Cain. A lit- 
tle later the ultimate trend of the first act of disobe- 
dience appears (Genesis 6:5-7a) : "And Jehovah saw 
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his 
heart was only evil continually. And it repented Je- 
hovah that he had made man on the earth, and it 
grieved him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will 



196 An Outline of Old Testament History 

destroy man whom I have created from the face of 
the ground." Then follows the disastrous flood over 
all the earth, wheref rom only righteous Noah and his 
family escape. Almost the first event after the reced- 
ing of the waters was the drunkenness of Noah and 
the unfilial conduct of Ham, followed by a father's 
curse. The next step is the presumption of man 
and the resulting confusion of tongues. (Genesis 
11:1-9.) 

The history even of Abraham and the other patri- 
archs shows the weakness of the best men of their 
day, as appears, for example, in Abraham's coward- 
ly lie that exposed his wife to insult and in Jacob's 
swindling schemes. Ten of Jacob's sons do not hes- 
itate to sell their brother Joseph into slavery, and 
on the eve of the greatest crisis in Hebrew history 
comes the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32). 
In fact, Moses while dealing with the children of Is- 
rael convinces himself that, though they are the cho- 
sen people of Jehovah, they are yet a stiff-necked 
people. They are continually longing for the flesh- 
pots of Egypt and the dull drudgery of well-fed slav- 
ery. So constantly do they murmur and rebel that 
the thought of Jehovah is, ^^Get you [Moses] up from 
among this congregation, that I may consume them 
in a moment" (Numbers 16:45). Moses himself is 
by no means perfect ; and his fatal sin, according to 
Numbers 20 : 8-13 and 27 : 14, is the secret of his not 
crossing over into the Land of Promise. Under 
Joshua the same trail of sin appears, though, as un- 
der Moses, the people are said to have been true to 



Resume and Review 197 

Jehovah "all the days of Joshua, and all the days of 
the elders that outlived Joshua'' (Joshua 24 : 31) . 

The constant recurrence of certain formulae in the 
book of Judges gives an idea of the purpose of that 
book. They are simply a shorter statement of the 
thesis presented in the introduction to the book: 
"And the children of Israel did that which was evil 
in the sight of Jehovah. . . . Therefore the anger 
of Jehovah was kindled against Israel ; . . . and when 
the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah 
raised up a savior" (Judges 3:7-9). Some variant 
of this recurring formula forms the setting of the 
entire book, especially summarizing the history be- 
tween the death of one judge and the rise of another 
to leadership. 

Samuel looms up against the background of the 
sin and ruin of Eli's house, and Saul is but a type 
of the sin of the people. Even David, the best man 
of his day, is guilty of the double crime of murder 
and adultery; and the sin of his household, of Am- 
non and of Absalom, and of Solomon, with his final 
ruin and oppressive tyranny, is at once the full her- 
itage of a father's example and the carrying out of 
the thread of the Old Testament story. 

The formulae that are the setting of the books of 
Kings are chiefly statements of the synchronism of 
each king with the king of the sister kingdom and 
of the length of his reign. But in the case of the 
kings of Israel there follows, "And he did that which 
was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the 
way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made 
Israel to sin," or some variation thereof ; and in the 



198 An Outline of Old Testament History 

accounts of the kings of Judah, even when the kings 
are said to have done "that which was good in the 
sight of Jehovah," the qualification is usually added, 
"Nevertheless the high places were not taken away." 
But through all there runs another thread, for 
alongside the story of sin the story of the process of 
redemption appears. Man's hope is always to bruise 
the head of the serpent, to rise triumphant over the 
sin which has been his fall. The disaster of the 
flood is the first efifort at redemption by segregation 
and development of the good and the destruction of 
the wicked. And when sin reappears in the chosen 
family of Noah, erelong Abraham is chosen to be- 
come the father of a faithful nation. Of his sons, 
Isaac above Ishmael and Jacob above Esau are cho- 
sen. Then follows the long story of God's efifort to 
purify and perfect the Hebrew people. Finally 
comes the division of the kingdom, and the tribes of 
Israel go the way of sin and disappear from the 
main course of the redemptive process. A nation 
purified in its entirety becomes a forlorn and buried 
hope. Isaiah had preached a doctrine of the rem- 
nant, a term used also in the book of Amos. *The 
Lord will set his hand again the second time to re- 
cover the remnant of his people" (Isaiah 11:11). 
There enters herewith the hope that wickedness and 
the wicked shall be sifted out of the nation by the 
redemptive process, leaving the righteous remnant 
which shall fulfill the purpose of God. This, as it 
is frequently expressed, is the origin of the Church 
within the nation — a still further narrowing in the 
process of redemption. 



Resume and Review 199 

Through the entire process of the history there 
runs the effort of Jehovah to purify unto himself a 
people, and throughout also runs the method of 
choosing one man as the agent of God in his efforts 
at redemption. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jo- 
seph, Moses, David, Zerubbabel are thus spoken of 
as chosen ; and after each successive disappointment 
hope revives in a future far-off or near-by divine 
event toward which the entire process tends. This 
hope, however, is not a part of the historical parts 
of the Old Testament, but is the work of the proph- 
ets. In fact, it is the work of the prophets and their 
hope for this divine event that for the most part 
stimulates the ancient Hebrew historian to his task 
and furnishes him his philosophy of history and his 
historical theme and emphasis. The study of the re- 
sults of this historical task we have now in this 
merely introductory way completed. 

85. Exercise. 

It is well, now that the component parts of the 
history have been studied, to take each of the two 
histories found in the Old Testament (Genesis- 
Kings and Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah) and read 
them rapidly, just as one reads a history of the Unit- 
ed States or England. It is surprising how much 
can be gained from such a rapid survey. 



APPENDIX I 

PORTIONS FOR DAILY BIBLE-READINa 

For the widest service an outline for Bible study 
should seek to induce daily Bible-reading as well as 
to fit into the plans of those who habitually read 
their Bibles every day. For these reasons the fol- 
lowing portions for daily study are given. Some por- 
tions lend themselves less to devotional reading than 
others ; but there are lapses of mood in all habitual 
devotions, and it is easy to make one's devotions too 
sentimental or too introspective. It has been 
thought, therefore, that the devotional value of a 
general view of Old Testament history is sufficiently 
obvious to warrant this presentation of daily por- 
tions. 

The general plan requires from twelve or fifteen 
to twenty minutes a day, with a longer time for a 
seventh day. Sunday is, of course, the logical day 
for the longer period of study, but some who are pas- 
tors will prefer to make the longer period fall per- 
haps on Saturday or Monday. 

There are difficulties in the way. The portions 
necessarily vary, and sometimes paragraphs are put 
out of their regular connection. In such cases the 
student should always go back and get the connec- 
tion. The scheme is only suggestive, and intelligent 
teachers or students can modify to suit their own 
needs. 

The portions are arranged in thirty-five weeks — • 
(200) 



Portions for Daily Bible-Readim.g 201 

about the length of the school year — but they may 
be divided into three courses of twelve weeks each or 
two courses of eighteen weeks. Each reference may 
be cut in half for those wishing to go more slowly. 
If one stops before the end of Chapter IX. is reached, 
he should close his study with an exercise such as 
that set in Section 60 (4). Teachers wishing a more 
rapid survey may omit many passages, such as lists, 
ordinances, etc., from their assignments. The plan 
of the "Outline'' is to cover the entire Old Testament 
in the present volume and its companion now in 
preparation. 

First Week. 
First Dap. — Section 1. 
Second Day, — Section 2. 
Third Da^/.— Section 3. 
Fourth Day. — Section 4. 
Fifth Day.— Section 5, H 1. 
Sixth Day.— Section 5, 1[ 2. 
Seventh Day. — Section 6 and a review of Chapter I. 

Second Week. 

First Day.Section 7, ITT 1-3. 
Second Day. — Section 7, Iffl 4-5 (3). 
Third Da^/.— Section 7, 1[ 5 (4). 
Fourth Day.—Section 7, If 6 (1). 
Fifth Day.— Section 7, H 6 (2). 
Sixth Day.— Section 7, H 6 (3). 
Seventh Day.— Section 7, HIT 7-9. 

Third Week. 

First Day.— Section 7, If 10. 

Second Day.— Section 7, Iflf 11 and 12 (2)* 

Third Day.— Section 8, Iflf 1-4. 

Fourth Day.— Section 8, Iflf 5 and 6. 



202 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Fifth Dai/.— -Section 8, W 7, 8, and Section 9, 1[ 1. 
Sixth Dai/.— -Section 9, HH 2-4. 

Seventh Day. — Sketch Section 7, 1[ 12 (1), and read Genesis 
1:1 to 30:24 at a single sitting. 

Fourth Week. 
First Dai/.— Section 9, 1[ 5. 
Second Day, — Section 9, 1[ 6. 
Third Day. —Section 9, 1[1[ 7 and 8. 
Fourth Day.— Section 9, HIF 9 and 10. 
Fifth Day.— Section 9, TfH 11 and 12. 
Sixth Day.— Section 9, 1[^ 13-15. 
Seventh Daj/.— Section 10, IfH 1-7. 

Fifth Week. 

First Day.— Section 10, HTf 8 and 9. 

Second Day,— Section 10, 1[ 10. 

TTiirc? Da2/.— Section 10, H 11. 

Fourth Day.— Section 10, 1I1I12 and 13. 

Fifth Day.— Section 10, 1I1[ 14 and 15. 

Sixth Day.— Section 10, HH 16-18. 

Seventh Day. — Section 13 (7). Read at a sitting Genesis 

27:46 to 50:26, if you have not time for the whole of 

Genesis. 

Sixth Week. 

First Day.— Section 11, If 1. 
Second Day, — Section 11, IT 2. 
Third Day,— Section 12. 
Fourth Day,— Section 14, Hlf 1-5. 
Fifth Day.— Section 14, IfK 6-8. 
Sixth Day.— Section 14, HH 9 and 10. 
Seventh Day.— Section 13, (1) to (6), 

Seventh Week. 

First Daa/.— Section 15, HIT 1-3. 
Second Day, — Section 15, HH 4 and 5. 
Third Day.— Section 15, H 6. 



Portions for Daily Bible-Reading 203 

Fourth Dai/.— Section 15, H 7. 
Fifth Da2/.—Section 15, H 8. 
Sixth Daa/.— Section 15, HH 9 and 10. 
Seventh Day. — Sections 16 and 17. 

Eighth Week. 

First Day.— Section 18, HH 1-3. 
Second Day.— Section 18, Ulf 4-6. 
Third Day.— Section 19, 1[ 1. 
Fourth Day.— Section 19, If 2. 
Fi/^7i Day.— Section 19, W 3-5. 
Sixth Day.— Section 19, HIT 6 and 7. 
Seventh Day.— Section 19, 1[1f 8-11. 

^YintTi Weefc. 

First Day.— Section 19, HIT 12 and 13a. 

Second Day.— Section 19, 1[ 13&. 

^7^^r(^ Day.— Section 19, % 14. 

Fourth Day.— Section 19, HIT 15 and 16. 

Fi/i7i Day.— Section 19, 1[ 17. 

/Sfiipm Day.— Section 19, HH 18-20. 

Seventh Day.— Section 19, H 21 to Section 20, H ?• 

Ten^Ti Week, 

First Day.— Section 20, Iffl 8-11. 
Second Day. — Section 20, W 12 and 13. 
Third Day.— Section 20, Iffl 14 and 15. 
Fourth Day.— Section 20, H 16. 
Fi/^7i Day.— Section 20, ^ 17-19. 
;Sfia?f7i Day.— Section 20, IfH 20-22. 
Seventh Day.— Section 21. 

Eleventh Week. 

First Day.— Section 22, HH 1-3. 
Second Day, — Section 22, ^% 4 and 6. 
Third Day.— Section 22, HH 6 and 7. 
Fourth Day.— Section 22, H 8. 



204 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Fifth Day,— Section 22, IfH 9 and 10. 
Sixth Day,— Section 22, %% 11-14. 
Seventh Day, — Section 23. 

Twelfth Week. 

First Day,Section 24, IfH 1 and 2. 

Second Day, — Section 24, If 3. 

Third Daa/.— Section 24, HH 4 and 5. 

Fourth Day,— Section 24, 1[ 6, and Section 25 (4). 

Fifth Day,— Section 25 (2). 

;S'iirf7i Day, — Section 25 (3). 

Seventh Day, — Section 25 (1). 

Thirteenth Week. 

First Day,— Section 26, HH 1-3. 
Second Day, — Section 26, Hlf 4 and 5. 
Third Day,— Section 26, HIF 6-9. 
Fourth Day,— Section 26, HH 10 and 11. 
Fifth Day.— Section 26, IfH 12 and 13. 
/SfiiP^Ti Dai/.— Section 2Q, Hlf 14 and 15. 
Seventh Day,— Section 26, 1f1[ 16-20. 

Fourteenth Week. 

First Day,— Section 27, TIF 1-3. 
Second Day, — Section 27, IfH 4 and 5. 
Third Day,— Section 27, TTIf 6 and 7. 
Fourth Day.— Section 27, IfH 8-12. 
i<^i/f7i Day.— Section 27, W 13-15. 
/Sfiaj^Ti Dai/.— Section 28, IfH 1 and 2. 
Seventh Day, — Section 29, If 1. 

Fifteenth Week. 

First Day.— Section 28, IF 3. 

Second Day. — Section 28, 1[ir4-7. 

Third Da?/.— Section 29, n 3 and 4, and Section 30, 1[1 (1) 

and (2). 
Fourth Day.— The remainder of Section 30. 



Portions for Daily Bible-Reading 205 

Fifth Bay, — Sections 81 and 32. 
Sixth Da?/.— Section 33, HH 1 and 2. 
Seventh Dai/.— Section 29, H 2. 

Sixteenth Week. 

First Dai/.— Section 33, 1[1[ 3 and 4. 

Second Day, — Section 34, HIT 1-5. 

T7iir(Z Dai/.— Section 34, 1f1[ 6-10. 

Fourth Day.— Section 34, Iffl 11-13 

Fi/^7i Dai/.— Section 34, 1[T 14-17, and Section 35. 

Sixth Day. — Section 36. 

Seventh Day. — Sections 37 and 38. 

Seventeenth Week. 

First Day, — Section 39. 

Second Day, — Section 40, HIT 1-4. 

Third Dai/.— Section 40, W 5 and 6. 

Fourth Day,— -Section 40, T 7. 

Fifth Day.— Section 41 (3). 

Sixth Day.— Section 41 (4) and (5). 

Seventh Day. — Section 41 (1) and (2). 

Eighteenth Week. 

First Day,— Section 42, HIT 1 and 2. 

Second Day, — Section 42, Tf^ 3-5. 

Third Day.— Section 42, ^1[ 6 and 7. 

Fourth Day.— Section 43, Hlf 1-4. 

Fi/^7i Dai/.— Section 43, H 5-8. 

fifia:f7i Dai/.— Section 43, W 9-12. 

Seventh Day. — The remainder of Section 43. 

Nineteenth Week. 

First Da2/.— Section 44, 111F1-5. 
Second Day, — Section 44, Hlf 6-9. 
Third Day.— Section 44, H 10 and 11. 
Fourth Day,— Section 45, H 1-3. 
Fifth Day.— Section 45, Hlf 4-6. 



206 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Sixth Day.— Section 45, IJH 7-10. 

Seventh Day.— Section 45, H 11, and Section 46, HH 1-12. 

Twentieth Week. 

First Day,— Section 46, ^^ 13 and 14. 

Second Day.— Section 46, HH 15-18. 

Third Day.— Section 46, ^[K 19-22. 

Fourth Day.— Section 48, Hlf 1-3. 

Fifth Day.— Section 48, IfH? and 8, and Section 49, KUl 

and 2. 
^SziP^Ti Day.— Section 48, 1f1[ 4-6. 
Seventh Day. — Section 47 (1). 

Twenty-First Week. 

First Day.— Section 47 (2) and (4). 

Second Day. — Section 47 (3) and (4). 

Third Day.— Section 49, HH 3-7. 

Fourth Day. — Section 49, n 8-12. 

Fifth Day.— Section 49, 1[1[13 and 14, and Section 50, Hf 1 

and 2. 
Sixth Day.— Section 50, HH 3-6. 
Seventh Day.— Section 50, 1[1F 7-14. 

Twenty-Second Week. 

First Day.— Section 50, H 15-17. 

Second Day.— Section 50, HT 18 and 19. 

Third Day.— Section 51, Iffl 1-6. 

Fourth Day. — Section 51, 1fT[ 7 and 8, and Section 52, H 1. 

Fz/^Ti Day.— Section 52, Iffl 2-5. 

iSfia?^7t Day.— Section 52, HIT 6-12. 

Seventh Day. — The remainder of Section 52. 

Twenty-Third Week. 

First Day.— Section 53, Hlf 1-4. 
Second Day. — Section 53, IFH 5 and 6. 
Third Day.— Section 53, TIF 7-13. 
Fourth Day. — Section 54. IFU 1-5. 



Portions for Daily Bihle-Reading 207 

Fifth Dai/.— Section 54, T;!! 6 and 7. 
Sixth Day.— Section 54, HH 8 and 9. 
Seventh Day, — Section 56 (1). 

Twenty-Fourth Week. 

First Day.— Section 54, 1[1[ 10-13. 

Second Day. — Section 55. 

Third Day. — Section 56 (2) and (3). 

Fourth Day.— Section 56 (4), (5), and (6). 

Fifth Day.— Section 57, HH 1-5. 

Sixth Day.— Section 57, HH 6-8. 

Seventh Day. — Section 57, 1[ 9, to Section 58, f 9. 

Twenty-Fifth Week. 

First Day.— Section 58, H 10, to Section 50, % 2. 

Second Day.— Section 59, ^ 3-8. 

Third Day.— Section 59, HIT 9-14. 

Fourth Day.— Section 60 (1) and (2). 

Fifth Day.— Section 60 (3) and (4) (a). 

/Sfi^rfTi Da^/.—Section 61, ITU 1-4. 

Seventh Day.— Section 60 (4) (&) and (c). 

Twenty-Sixth Week. 

First Day.— Section 61, UK 5-7. 

Second Day.— Section 61, H 8-15. 

Third Day.— Section Q2, 1FK 1-8. 

Fourth Day.— Section 62, IfH 9-18. 

Fifth Day.— Section 62, HT 19-23, and Section 62 (3) and (4). 

Sixth Day. — Section 64, HIT 1-7. 

Seventh Day. — Section 63 (1), (2), and (5). 

Twenty-Seventh Week. 

First Day.— Section 65, ^^ 1-4. 
Second Day.— Section 65, IfH 5-7. 
Third Day. — Section 65, Hlf 8 and 9. 
Fourth Day.— Section 65, IfH 10-14. 



208 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Fifth Dat/.— Section 65, n 15-17. 
Sixth Day.— Section 65, Tf1[ 18-21. 
Seventh Dat/.— Section 65, H 22, to Section 66, f 11. 

Twenty-Eighth Week. 

First Dai/.— Section 66, IFH 12 and 13. 
Second Day,— Section 66, HU 14-17. 
Third Day.— Section 66, T[1[ 18 and 19. 
Fourth Day.— Section 66, Iffl 20-23. 
JF'i/^Ti Dai/.— Section 66, HIF 24-29. 
;Sfiirf7i Dat/.— Section 6Q, IfH 30-35. 
Seventh Day. — Section 67. 

Twenty-Ninth Week. 

First Day.— Section 68 and Section 69, HH 1 and 2. 

Second Day. — Section 69, HIT 3-7. 

Third Day.— Section 69, Hlf 8 and 9. 

Fourth Day.— Section 70, HU 1-4. 

Fi/^7i Da2/.— Section 70, H 5. 

/SfiiT^/i Z)a2/.— Section 70, HH 6-8. 

Seventh Day.— Section 70, HIT 9-19. 

Thirtieth Week. 

First Day. — Section 70, If 20, and reference. 

Second Day.— Section 71, HIF 1-3. 

Third Day.— Section 71, 1[1[ 4-8. 

Fourth Day.— Section 71, W 9-12. 

Fifth Day.— Section 72, 1[1[ 1-3. 

Sixth Day.— Section 72, HH 4-6. 

Seventh Day.— Section 72, ^ 7-10, and Section 73, 1f1[ 1-6. 

Thirty-First Week. 

First Day.— Section 73, HH 7-9. 
Second Day.— Section 73, 1fl[ 10-12. 
T7uni Da2/.— Section 73, 1f1[ 13-17. 
Fourth Day. — Section 74. 
Fifth Day.— Section 75, H 1-5. 



Portions for Daily Bihle-Reading 209 

mxtn Dai/.— Section 75, IFH 6-8. 

Seventli Day. — The remainder of Section 75 and Section 76, 
Wl-4. 

Thirty-Second Week, 

First Day.— Section 76, n 5-9. 

Second Day. — Section 77 (5). 

Third Day. — Section 78. 

Fourth Day. — Section 79, 1[1, and Section 77 (2). 

Fifth Day.— Section 79, H 2 and 3. 

Sixth Day.— Section 79, 1fir4-6. 

Seventh Day. — Section 77 (1). 

Thirty-Third Week. 

First Day.— Section 79, Iffl 7-9. 

Second Day.— Section 79, 1[1[ 10 and 11, and Section 80, H 1. 

Third Day.— Section 80, IJH 2-6. 

Fourth Day.— Section 80, H 7-10, 

Fifth Day.— Section 80, H 11. 

Sixth Dai/.— Section 81, ^ 1-6. 

Seventh Day. — Section 71, HIT 4 and 3, putting yourself 
back into tlie former connections and keeping in mind 
Driver's view concerning the identity of the Chronicler 
with the author of Ezra-Nehemiah. 

Thirty-Fourth Week. 

First Day.— Section 81, IT 7. 
Second Day. — Section 81, n 8 and 9. 
Third Day.— Section 81, H 10-14. 
Fourth Day.— Section 82, ^.% 1-3. 
Fifth Z>a2/.— Section 82, % 4. 
Sixth Dai/.— Section 82, TfK 5-7. 

Seventh Day. — The remainder of Section 82 and Section 
83 (1). 

Thirty-Fifth Week. 

First Day.— Section 83 (2). 
Second Day.— Section 83 (3). 
14 



210 An Outline of Old Testament History 

Third Day.— Section 83 (4). 

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Days. — Section 83 (5). 

Seventh Day. — Section 84. 

Take time within the week or two weeks follow- 
ing, or in preparation for the examination if the 
study is taken in a regular course, to follow out the 
suggestion of Section 85. 



APPENDIX II 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Instead of presenting an elaborate list of author- 
ities, it is deemed best to name a few books that 
might serve further to open up the treasures of Old 
Testament history. The following are, therefore, 
recommended for purchase, not in bulk, but two or 
three at a time. The others should be secured when 
the first have been read. These remarks do not ap- 
ply to the commentaries, which might well be used 
for reference at the very beginning of the study of 
the "Outline.'' A genuine student should not read 
merely one side, but should endeavor to get as many 
viewpoints as possible, that he may be intelligent 
upon all aspects of Bible interpretation. One is not 
supposed to accept all one reads and should read 
with a well-poised and discriminating mind. 

On the General Character of the Bible. 
"The Bible: Its Origin and Nature." Dods. 50 cents. 

On Old Testament Criticism. 

Anticritical: *The Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture." 
Gladstone. $1.50. Or "The Higher Criticism of the Penta- 
teuch." Green. $1.50. 

Conservative: "The Problem of the Old Testament." Orr. 
90 cents. 

Critical: "Old Testament Criticism and the Christian 
Church." McFadyen. $1.50. 

On the History. 

Conservative: Since Geikie's "Hours with the Bible" Is 
out of print. Volume I. of Milman's "History of the Jews," 

(211) 



212 An Outline of Old Testament History 

whicli, though it created some protest when first issued, 
is, perhaps, the most readable and valuable conservative 
presentation, as well as a literary classic. It can be had in 
"Everyman's Library" edition for 50 cents. 

Critical: "History, Prophecy, and the Monuments." Mc- 
Curdy. Three volumes now published in one. $3. Or 
"The Historical Bible." Kent. Four volumes. $1.25 each. 

^ • Commentaries in Short Compass. 

Conservative: Jamieson, Pausset, and Brown. Two vol- 
umes. $3.50. 
Critical: Drummelow. One volume. $2.50. 

For further bibliography see ^The Best Books for 
Old and New Testament Study.'' Smith & Lamar. 
20 cents. 

Any or all of these books can be obtained from 
Smith & Lamar, Broadway and Ninth Avenue, Nash- 
ville, Tenn. ; 1308 Commerce Street, Dallas, Tex. ; or 
900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 



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